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Committee considers bills to expand permitted epinephrine delivery systems in schools
Summary
Lawmakers and health advocates discussed a package of bills to let schools and other authorized entities obtain newer FDA‑approved epinephrine delivery systems — including nasal spray and sublingual film — to address shelf life, temperature sensitivity and supply risks; school nurses and associations testified in support.
The House Education and Workforce Committee considered a package of bills (HB 50‑49, HB 50‑50 and HB 50‑51 through 50‑54) that would update Michigan law permitting authorized entities such as schools, first responders and camps to obtain and use epinephrine auto‑injectors so the statute also permits newer FDA‑approved delivery systems.
Sponsors said the change would allow options such as a nasal spray (Nephi) and a sublingual film (ANIFILM, pending approval), which may offer longer shelf life and greater temperature resilience than current auto‑injectors. David Andruciak told the committee that EpiPen shelf life is typically 12 to 18 months while newer delivery systems have longer shelf lives (Nephi 24–30 months; ANIFILM about 24 months in initial testing) and that temperature extremes can degrade auto‑injectors. He also provided Michigan Department of Education data showing roughly 200 administrations of school‑stock epinephrine per year in recent years and said about 36 percent of those incidents involved students not previously known to be allergic.
Witnesses emphasized that rapid administration of epinephrine is critical. Hendrina Capieri, representing the Michigan Association of School Nurses, said anaphylaxis can progress in seconds and recounted a case in which staff delayed administration and contacted a parent while the student's airway began to obstruct. Supporters said allowing multiple delivery systems would give schools flexibility to choose options that better withstand extreme cold or heat, have longer shelf life and could reduce waste and cost over time. The committee also heard from the Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health and other advocates in support.
Committee members and sponsors noted the bills do not require districts to switch to new products; the bills would merely expand the list of permissible epinephrine delivery systems to improve access and resilience to supply or temperature disruptions. No committee vote on the package occurred at this meeting.
