President Donald Trump has signed into law a bipartisan bill that clarifies an existing law to allow EMS providers to continue dispensing controlled substances under "standing orders."
The Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2017 was made into law with the stroke of Trump's pen last Friday.
The legislation allows EMS providers such as paramedics to administer life-saving medications without obtaining permission from a physician, which can potentially delay critical patient care. The bill also facilitates and strengthens the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) oversight of EMS responders.
"EMS professionals work directly with physicians to respond to traumatic events," said Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, who co-sponsored the bill. "This bipartisan bill will allow them to continue this important work while creating safeguards to track controlled substances, such as opioids. The bill also improves access to innovative treatments for opioid addiction. Physicians and other practitioners should have multiple tools at their disposal to fight this epidemic."
The law was unanimously endorsed this spring by the Congressional Fire Service Institute's National Advisory Committee and also had the support of the International Association of Fire Fighters, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and the National Volunteer Fire Council.
