Lung Association Applauds Passage of Bill that Allows Schools in Kentucky to Stock Asthma Medications

Statement of Shannon Baker, Director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association in Kentucky, in response to passage of Senate Bill 127, sponsored by Senator Max Wise, that will allow schools in Kentucky to stock asthma medications for student use.

“The American Lung Association in Kentucky thanks Senator Wise for sponsoring the bill and Representative Regina Huff for carrying the bill in the House, the legislature for passing, and Governor Andy Beshear for signing Senate Bill 127 that will allow schools in Kentucky to provide more immediate access to medications for students with asthma. Specifically, the bill allows schools to maintain a supply of asthma medications, which students with asthma or who are in respiratory distress can use if necessary. Asthma can be a deadly disease if flare-ups are not treated immediately, so this bill has the potential to save lives for schools that take advantage of this authority.

“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 Kentucky, 57,000 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.”

“Now that this law has been passed, the American Lung Association in Kentucky encourages schools in the Commonwealth to take the next step and put in place policies that allow the school to stock asthma medications. The American Lung Association as part of its Asthma Medications in Schools project has a set of materials on this topic that may provide assistance on its public website Lung.org."