WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement after President Trump signed into law the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act (H.R. 304), bipartisan legislation that will ensure emergency medical services (EMS) professionals can administer controlled substances and save lives.
“In life or death situations, minutes can make all the difference,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This bill will help save lives by allowing EMS professionals to administer vital drugs in critical situations, so patients receive the best treatment possible. I’m glad to see President Trump sign this bill into law.”
Cassidy introduced the Senate companion bill (S. 916) in April. U.S. Representatives Richard Hudson (NC-08) and G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) spearheaded the bill in the House, which passed the bill in January.
This legislation is supported by several emergency medicine advocacy groups and professional organizations, including the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP), the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), the American Ambulance Association (AAA), the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC).
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