House passes bill clarifying EMS authority to administer controlled substances

The House of Representatives today approved AHA-supported legislation (H.R. 4365) clarifying that emergency medical services practitioners may administer controlled substances in accordance with a standing order issued by a physician medical director of an EMS agency. “We applaud your efforts to clarify the role of standing orders while protecting the continuity of existing EMS operations and oversight structures around the country,” AHA Executive Vice President Tom Nickels said in letter to the bill’s bipartisan sponsors and the committees of jurisdiction. “We also appreciate that the legislation continues to allow hospital-based EMS agencies to use their hospital’s Drug Enforcement Administration registration so that no new administrative burdens are placed on hospital-based EMS agencies.”