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03/28/2024 06:30 PM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20210&cosponId=35526
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House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: April 29, 2021 11:48 AM
From: Representative Andrew Lewis
To: All House members
Subject: Ensuring Lifesaving Asthma Medication is Available for Students
 
Asthma impacts millions of lives and has a tremendous impact on our nation’s healthcare system and economy. In the U.S., close to 25 million Americans, including 6.1 million children have asthma. In Pennsylvania, nearly 270,000 children have asthma. Asthma is also responsible for more than $50 billion annually in healthcare costs and causes 7.9 million missed school days and 10.1 million missed days of work nationwide.

I will soon be introducing legislation that would allow schools in Pennsylvania to stock asthma medication or inhalers that can help save the lives of children experiencing asthma attacks in schools or respiratory distress. This life-saving medication, called a short-acting bronchodilator, is easy to administer, inexpensive, and very safe. Schools can purchase or secure donations of single inhalers containing a short-acting bronchodilator along with inexpensive disposable spacers that can be used for anyone who experiences the sudden onset of cough, shortness-of-breath, and chest tightness that signals an asthma attack.

Over the past decade, stock albuterol policies have increased across the US with at least 15 states passing such legislation. In many cases, providing easy access to this medication allows children to immediately return to their learning environment increasing educational and health outcomes in our schools.

Please join me in supporting this critical legislation for the next generation of Pennsylvanians.



Introduced as HB2155