Opportunities and Successes
My President’s Message this month revolves around advocacy, and I am happy to share some good news and some opportunities for our members.
In November 2017 – almost 8 years ago – our NAEMSP Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act (PPAEMA) unanimously passed Congress and was signed into law. While we are still awaiting the promulgation of the corresponding regulations for this Act, there has just been some important progress.
The DEA has moved forward with the new classification of a registration category for EMS agencies, as described in the PPAEMA. EMS agencies can now apply for a DEA registration without the registration being in the name of the EMS medical director or other applicant. This is consistent with the 2017 PPAEMA even though the regulations are still pending, and it reduces the risk to EMS agency medical directors who previously applied for DEA registrations for their agencies. There is one caveat: your state must recognize this level of application, and currently, approximately 18 states permit this.
For the states that do not recognize this type of DEA registration, our state NAEMSP chapters have an opportunity to work within the state to affect this change.
NAEMSP will hold a webinar with the DEA on October 16 to provide our members with more details about this new application category. Registration is now open for this webinar event.
Continuing on the topic of improving access to medications for our EMS agencies and patients, NAEMSP continues to work to mitigate future medication shortages that may affect EMS systems. We need your help in reaching out to your U.S. representative to ask that they cosponsor our H.B. 3443, the MEDS Bill. One part of this bill identifies 9 essential medications for EMS patients and suggests a way to protect these from future shortages. Please contact your U.S. representative and ask that they support H.B. 3443. It is easy to make these contacts to your lawmakers through our Legislative Action Center on the NAEMSP member portal of our website.
In a related effort, last week, I was fortunate to represent NAEMSP at a Health and Human Services ASPR (Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response) listening session in the Washington DC area. I was accompanied by Dr. Larry Bucshon (past U.S. representative) from Holland & Knight. We were able to emphasize the importance of our 9 essential medications from H.B. 3443, and we also further emphasized other important medications that should have their production protected for EMS patients.
ASPR heard from many health care specialties in this listening session, but we were the only voice for the specific issues related to EMS – our unique practice setting and our unique medication safety issues. We were the only group that spoke about the importance of the availability of specific concentrations of various medications for our patients and clinicians.
Lastly, while we were disappointed by the termination of all members of the National EMS Advisory Council (NEMSAC) last month – particularly since seven of the NEMSAC members were also NAEMSP members – there is now a new opportunity. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently inviting individuals to apply for appointment to a new NEMSAC. I strongly encourage interested NAEMSP members to apply for the membership category that best fits you. Applications are due by 5pm EDT on October 20.
These are exciting opportunities for EMS physicians and our EMS systems. I hope that you will consider helping us with these and other projects that benefit our members and our patients.
Yours in service,
Doug
Douglas F. Kupas, MD, NRP, FAEMS
President, NAEMSP