Interagency Policy

NATIONAL CAPITAL ASTHMA COALITION

With proper treatment, asthma attacks are preventable and
people with asthma can lead healthy and active lives.

Archive of Policy Committee

Summary:

Students now may possess and self-administer life-saving asthma and anaphylaxis medications in any public, charter, parochial, and private school in DC. NCAC's Policy Committee, working with the DC Department of Health and DC Public Schools, successfully developed and advocated for the new law, enacted on December 3, 2007 as the Student Access to Treatment Act of 2007. Among its key provisions, the law:

	Permits a student with a valid medication action plan to possess and self-administer asthma or anaphylaxis medications while at school, at school-sponsored activities, and while on school-sponsored transportation;
	Permits a trained school employee or agent to administer medication to a student with a valid medication action plan;
	Permits a trained school employee or agent to administer medication to any student in emergency circumstances, in accordance with a doctor’s standing order; and
	Permits future regulation to establish the administration of medication for other illnesses (e.g., diabetes).

Introduced by DC Councilman David Catania, an earlier version of the law first took effect on July 26, 2007 following a Committee on Health public hearing on June 7, 2007. The final law reflects the consensus-building process and resulting draft policy coordinated over the past two years by NCAC, DC Department of Health (DOH), and DC Public Schools (DCPS) in collaboration with many key partners, including Children’s School Services (DC school nurses), DC’s Medicaid managed care organizations, Children’s National Medical Center, Georgetown University Hospital/MedStar Health, Howard University Hospital, National Association of School Nurses DC Chapter, Allergy and Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA), and Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network. In addition to DOH and NCAC, representatives from the DC Primary Care Association, District of Columbia Association of Health Maintenance Organizations, American Lung Association of DC, American Academy of Pediatrics DC Chapter, Georgetown University Hospital/MedStar Health, National Association of School Nurses DC Chapter, AANMA, and DCPS joined in providing testimony in favor of expanding student access to lifesaving medications at the June 7 hearing.

Minutes: (all files in Word format)

Policy and Health Services Committee Minutes 6/1/07 (Word, 70 KB)

Policy and Health Services Committee Minutes 3/16/07 (Word, 101 KB)

Policy Committee Minutes 5/9/06

Policy Committee Minutes 3/25/05

Guidance:

Managing Asthma and Allergies in DC Schools Guide (see Section 4: Legislation and Guidance)

When Should Students With Asthma or Allergies Carry and Self-Administer Emergency Medications at School? (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

The Use of Asthma Rescue Inhalers in the School Setting (National Association of School Nurses)

Resolution on Asthma Management at School (NHLBI)

School Guidelines for Managing Students with Food Allergies (Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, etc.)

Participating Organizations: