Hudson, Butterfield Bipartisan EMS Bill Heads to Trump's Desk
November 6, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6, 2017
Hudson, Butterfield Bipartisan EMS Bill Heads to Trump’s Desk
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Richard Hudson (NC-08) and G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) released the following statements after their bipartisan bill, the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act (H.R. 304), passed Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support on Friday, November 3. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation now heads to President Donald Trump to be signed into law.
“After more than a year of hard work, I’m pleased to see this important bill finally head to President Trump’s desk,” said Rep. Hudson. “This is an example of how to get things done — finding common ground and advancing bipartisan solutions to get results people deserve.”
“Passage of this legislation is a breakthrough for the delivery of medication in emergency situations,” said Rep. Butterfield. “Through this bill, we hope to ensure patients receive treatment when they need it most, particularly in rural communities like those in eastern North Carolina where the patient may be far removed from an emergency room. I commend my colleagues for coming together to pass this potentially life-saving measure so that patients can receive treatment as quickly as possible.”
Reps. Hudson and Butterfield re-introduced the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act in January 2017. The bill was sent to the Senate following House-passage on January 9, 2017. After a few minor technical changes, the bill passed the Senate on October 24, 2017. The bill now heads to President Trump to be signed into law. This critical legislation is supported by several emergency medicine advocacy groups and professional organizations, including:
"NAEMSP applauds legislation led by Reps. Richard Hudson, G.K. Butterfield and Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. and Michael Bennett that Congress passed ensuring that life-saving EMS professionals are able to deliver emergency medication to the patients that so desperately need them," said Brent Myers, MD, MPH, FACP, FAEMS, President, National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP). "Without this solution, quality emergency care and patients would have been endangered simply because law and regulation have not kept up with the evolution of modern medicine. This is an important clarification of law that allows our first responders to continue administering life-saving medications to patients when they need them most."
“The ability to use controlled substances in the prehospital setting as appropriate is essential to saving lives, managing pain and improving health outcomes,” said Paul D. Kivela, MD, MBA, FACEP, President, American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). “This legislation will help protect the role of EMS medical directors and ability of first responders to treat patients with appropriate and necessary medication.”
“We are extremely pleased the House and Senate passed H.R. 304, Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2017 under unanimous consent,” said Dennis Rowe, President, National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT). “We applaud the commitment, leadership, and perseverance of House and Senate sponsors – Congressman Richard Hudson (R-NC) and Congressman G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) in the House and Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) in the Senate getting this bill completed through the legislative process and ultimately signed into law. H.R. 304 will ensure access to vital emergency medications for patients when they need it most and ensure EMS personnel’s work is not compromised.”
“This legislation will ensure our EMS professionals can continue to administer lifesaving medications as quickly as they are able to reach and assess a patient, saving valuable minutes in emergency situations,” said Karen Wiley, MSN, RN, CEN, President, Emergency Nurses Association (ENA). “This is an important bill and I commend Rep. Hudson for his hard work to improve the care received by countless EMS patients.”
“The American Ambulance Association (AAA) applauds the final passage by the House today of the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act,” said Mark Postma, President, American Ambulance Association (AAA). “H.R. 304 will ensure that paramedics, EMTs and other emergency medical professionals can continue to deliver vital and often life-saving medications to patients. The AAA thanks Congressmen Hudson for his leadership on this critical issue.
“Utilizing standing orders to deliver life-saving EMS medications rapidly remains an important cornerstone of effective pre-hospital emergency medical care,” said Harold A. Schaitberger, General President, International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). “We applaud Representatives Hudson and Butterfield for their laser-focused attention on correcting a bureaucratic hindrance that had the potential to delay the safe administration of life-saving medicines to Americans suffering from serious medical conditions.”
“The IAFC applauds Representative Hudson for his leadership on this important public safety issue,” said Chief Thomas Jenkins, President and Chairman of the Board, International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). “This bill’s protection of standing orders would allow firefighters and paramedics to administer lifesaving medicine to their critically ill and injured patients without delay or concern for prohibitive regulatory action.”
Last Congress, the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency MedicationsActpassed the House with unanimous support, but did not make it to the Senate floor. To watch Rep. Hudson’s previous remarks on the House floor in support of this legislation, click here.
“During his re-election campaign, Hudson touted his conservative credentials but also promised to work in a bipartisan manner. On Congress’ first day back in session, a bill introduced by Hudson and originally co-sponsored by Rep. G. K. Butterfield, D-1, passed the U.S. House. Two other Democrats were also original co-sponsors.” Salisbury Post, Political Notebook: Hudson’s EMS bill passes House on first day back in session, 11/21/2016
“Hudson, who recently won a third term in Congress from North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District, says he’s eager to find bipartisan solutions in Washington – especially on “common-sense” issues like making sure emergency personnel can help patients. His bill drew a bipartisan group of 130 House co-sponsors and a companion bill in the Senate has Democratic and Republican support.” News & Observer, NC lawmakers, a Republican and Democrat, cooperate to back an emergency services bill, 11/14/2016
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Issues:Health Care