House Passes Bipartisan Bill to Better Equip Mobile Medical Professionals

Statement

The House of Representatives today passed H.R. 1492, the Medical Controlled Substances Transportation Act of 2017.

H.R. 1492 would update the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration process for mobile medical practitioners like EMS personnel and team physicians to ensure these health care providers can administer controlled substances at locations other than their principal places of business while complying with new limitations on the timing of transport and related recordkeeping requirements.

H.R. 1492 passed the Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously by voice vote in June.

"Whether its emergency medical service providers traveling to a disaster area to provide care or a team physician at an away game, certain medical practitioners often need to travel with and administer anti-seizure or pain medications. Although many of these are regulated under the Controlled Substances Act, current law does not specifically authorize the transportation or administration of such substances away from their registered location," said Health Subcommittee Chairman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX). "H.R. 1492 takes appropriate oversight of this practice, establishing a separate registration process for mobile practitioners who are already registered with the DEA and in good standing. It is an important bill with the appropriate safeguards, and I look forward to the Senate following our efforts to advance this commonsense solution."

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