WASHINGTON, DC - The House of Representatives today passed H.R. 304, the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act, by unanimous consent.
H.R. 304 will improve the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration process for emergency medical services (EMS) agencies, and clarify that EMS professionals are permitted to administer controlled substances pursuant to standing or verbal orders when certain conditions are met.
Authored by committee member Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC), H.R. 304 previously passed the House by a vote of 404-0 earlier this year. It passed the Senate, as amended, by unanimous consent, last month. Today’s final passage in the House clears the way for President Trump to sign H.R. 304 into law.
“After hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, now - more than ever - our country understands the urgent and unpredictable situations emergency providers face," said #SubHealth Chairman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX). “Whether responding to a natural disaster or an attack on our soil, this practical bill makes important clarifications to existing law, detailing how registered agencies can administer controlled substances, as well as how they are received, stored, and delivered."
