Hudson's Life-Saving EMS Bill Approved

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) released the following statement after his bipartisan bill, the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act, was approved by the Energy and Commerce Committee:

The Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act (H.R. 4365) clarifies existing law to allow emergency medical responders to administer controlled substances, such as pain narcotics and anti-seizure medications, under the supervision of a physician. Without this solution, quality emergency care may suffer and patients may be endangered simply because law and regulation have not kept up with the evolution of modern medicine.

H.R. 4365 ensures patients will continue to receive these vital medications by:

Codifying the practice of standing orders by a physician Medical Director for the administration and delivery of controlled substances, maintaining physician oversight of medical decisions, while, Making the EMS Agency liable for the receiving, storing, and tracking of controlled substances, similar to current procedure at hospitals.