School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act
On the national scale, the AAAAI was one of the supporters of the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act. This legislation encourages states to adopt policies that increase access to epinephrine to protect students who are at risk of fatal anaphylaxis from triggers such as foods or stinging insects.
The School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on July 30, 2013, where it was sponsored by Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN) and Steny Hoyer (D-MD), and the Senate on October 31, 2013, with sponsorship by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL). President Obama signed it into law on November 13, 2013.
In her November eNews message, AAAAI President Linda Cox, MD, FAAAAI, commented, “Congress passing the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act is a win for our specialty and our patients. We all recognize the seriousness of anaphylaxis and how crucial administering epinephrine is, so this is truly legislation that could save lives in an emergency.”
Similar bills have also been introduced or passed in many states. Read the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act.