Bill to allow authorized entities to acquire and administer EpiPens during emergencies
BOSTON – State Representative Richard M. Haggerty (D-Woburn) recently joined his colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass H.5443, ‘An Act Relative to Increasing Access to Epinephrine.’ The bill allows approved organizations to store EpiPens on hand by purchasing them through a Department of Public Health-approved supplier. It also allows employees at those organizations who have completed a training program to use EpiPens on-site to help anyone having a severe allergic reaction. This means more places will be equipped and ready to respond quickly when someone needs urgent allergy treatment.
“Severe allergic reactions can happen anywhere, and every second counts,” said Representative Haggerty. “By allowing more places to keep EpiPens on hand and train staff to use them, this legislation helps make sure that someone experiencing a severe allergic reaction gets the treatment they need when they need it. I am glad to support this important bill.”
Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that requires immediate medical treatment. Epinephrine autoinjectors, commonly known as EpiPens, are the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis and must be administered quickly. This legislation expands the settings in which epinephrine autoinjectors may be stored and administered, increasing the likelihood that one will be available when and where it is needed most.
The bill passed the House of Representatives by a unanimous vote of 154-0
