Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act (H.R. 304) signed into law by President Trump

NAEMSP® applauds the President signing into law the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act (H.R. 304), which passed the House of Representatives in January and the Senate by unanimous consent on Friday, Nov. 17.

The bill reestablishes the ability of emergency medical care providers, such as paramedics, to administer certain life-saving medications to critical patients without unnecessary delay, which was put in question by recent U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) regulatory deliberations. NAEMSP® worked directly with the DEA once the federal agency stated its intentions to criminalize the use of standing orders, which would have made it illegal for EMS providers to dispense controlled medications - including treatments for life-threatening allergic reactions and severe pain - in a timely manner.

NAEMSP® also coordinated and worked closely with bipartisan allies in Congress to write and advance the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act, which also establishes a framework to enable the DEA to oversee EMS consistently across the nation and also clarifies uniform protocols for EMS.

"This life-saving legislation is the product of three years of hard work and patient determination from NAEMSP® members, our partners ACEP and NAEMT and our advocates in Congress," said Dr. Ritu Sahni, Chair of NAEMSP®'s Advocacy Committee. "We are proud to have led this charge and we will continue to collaborate with the healthcare community and advocate for our patients and medical care providers across the nation."