Tyler’s Law

Emergency room fentanyl testing study and guidance

If enacted, HHS would study fentanyl testing in hospital and freestanding emergency departments. The study would look at how often tests are used during overdoses and when they are not. It would also review testing costs, patient benefits and risks, staff training needs, privacy, and barriers with fixes. HHS would have 3 years after enactment to finish the study. Within 9 months after the study ends, HHS would issue guidance. The guidance would say whether fentanyl tests should be routine for overdose patients, how to tell clinicians what drugs are in routine tests, how testing affects future overdose risk and health, and what federal resources can help. These rules would apply to hospital emergency departments and independent freestanding emergency departments.