After receiving unanimous approval from the General Assembly, Senator Doug Mastriano’s overdose reporting expansion bill, Senate Bill 89, is set to become law. The legislation builds on the framework established in 2022 through Act 158, also sponsored by Mastriano. It ensures that known or suspected drug overdoses treated by emergency medical services (EMS) providers are tracked in the statewide overdose mapping system.
“Our EMS providers are an essential part of our local first responders’ team and are often the first to encounter individuals experiencing overdoses,” said Mastriano. “The inclusion of their overdose reports in the statewide mapping system arms our law enforcement and health care personnel with more information that will aid them in fighting the heroin and opioid epidemic Pennsylvania continues to face.”
Under this bill, EMS providers would report details such as the date and time of the overdose, location where it occurred, substances involved, any reversal drugs administered, and whether the situation was fatal or nonfatal.
Senate Bill 89 includes an amendment from the state House of Representatives that offers clarifying language related to reporting by EMS providers. It adjusts acceptable information technology platforms and addresses reports submitted by multiple authorized users.
“This measure saw overwhelming bipartisan support and with the inclusion of EMS, more lives will be saved,” Mastriano stated.
Constituents can learn more about Senator Mastriano by visiting his website or following him on Facebook.
