Governor Maura Healey signs law expanding substance‑use treatment access and creating recovery coach licensure

Governor Maura Healey on Friday participated in a ceremonial signing of an act “relative to treatments and coverage for substance use disorder and recovery coach licensure,” a package of measures intended to broaden access to overdose reversal drugs, expand treatment options, and create licensure and insurance coverage for recovery coaches.

The law requires insurers to cover opioid overdose reversal drugs without cost sharing or prior authorization and directs pharmacies to maintain adequate supplies, expands prescriber training and pharmacy education on nonopioid alternatives, and mandates insurance coverage for services provided by licensed recovery coaches. "This is a disease that knows no bounds," Governor Maura Healey said, calling the measure “another step” in efforts to treat substance use disorder as a health issue rather than a criminal one.

The bill also includes protections for harm‑reduction…