House hearing examines ways to strengthen national trauma system

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health today held a hearing on legislation to strengthen the national trauma system. One proposal, the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medicines Act (H.R. 4365), would clarify that medications governed by the Controlled Substances Act may be administered by emergency medical services practitioners pursuant to a standing order issued by a physician medical director of an EMS agency. In a letter to subcommittee leaders, AHA Executive Vice President Tom Nickels said AHA “looks forward to working with the Committee as H.R. 4365 moves through the legislative process and urges the Committee to address this to ensure access to emergency medications during EMS transport.”