(Washington, D.C.) – Congressmen Glenn Grothman (WI-06) has introduced the Epi for Dilly Act, a bill that will incentivize states to allow “good Samaritans” to save lives.
The bill was inspired by Dillon Mueller, a Mishicot native who tragically passed away in 2014 at the age of 18 after being stung by a bee and falling into a coma due to anaphylaxis. Dillon was unable to receive Epinephrine in a timely manner. Read more about Dillon’s story here.
A version of Grothman’s bill has already been signed into law in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Indiana with overwhelming bipartisan support. While similar legislation passed Congress in 2013 providing incentives for states to develop emergency Epinephrine programs within school systems, this legislation would make Epinephrine training more widely available, enabling more individuals to prevent tragedies involving anaphylaxis from occurring.
“Dillon Mueller’s passing was a tragedy,” said Grothman. “No parent should have to endure the loss of a child, and that is what Dillon’s parents, Angel and George, are working to prevent going forward. This bill isn’t limited to children, however. The legislation incentivizes states to allow any properly trained individual to administer Epinephrine to someone experiencing a severe allergic reaction. In Wisconsin, Dillon’s Law was passed with wide bipartisan support before it was signed into law by Governor Walker in 2017. Since then, over 3,000 Wisconsinites have been trained to administer Epinephrine in the event of a life-threatening allergic reaction. I hope that my colleagues in Congress will join me in learning more about Dillon Mueller and how the Epi for Dilly Act can save lives throughout the country.”
“As I witnessed Dillon receiving CPR after a bee sting, God spoke to my heart and commanded me, ‘you need to fix this!’” Said Angel Mueller, Dillon’s mom. “God has put all the right people in the right place at the right time, including Congressman Grothman. To date, seven lives have been saved in Wisconsin as a result of Dillon’s Law from individuals trained to administer Epinephrine to someone experiencing anaphylaxis”
Background Information
H.R. 7873, the Epi for Dilly Act, creates a grant preference under an existing federal grant program for preventative health services for states that allow trained individuals to carry and administer Epinephrine to someone suffering from a severe allergic reaction. States would be able to implement programs to train, certify and enable “good Samaritans” to administer Epinephrine to an individual experiencing a severe allergic reaction, also known as anaphylaxis, in the event they need the medication before emergency medical services can arrive.
Anaphylaxis occurs when someone suffers a severe and life-threatening allergic reaction, most commonly from insect stings, food items and medications. Anywhere from 500-1,000 fatal cases of anaphylaxis occur per year in the United States. Anaphylaxis is the cause of hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and emergency room visits every year.
Under H.R. 7873, states would have greater access to existing grant dollars in order to train, certify and enable good Samaritans to administer Epinephrine to an individual experiencing a severe allergic reaction in the event they need the medication before emergency medical services can arrive. The bill also requires states to implement civil liability protections for individuals trained in administering Epinephrine.
The legislation is inspired by the life of Dillon Mueller, a Mishicot native who passed away at the age of 18 from anaphylaxis following a bee sting. Angel and George Mueller started the Dillon Mueller Memorial Fund, which has already helped 3,000 people obtain training in Wisconsin through the Do It for Dillon Epinephrine Certification Program, approved by Wisconsin Department of Health. The content of the course is state-approved through the Wisconsin Association of Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons (WAOPS). The course lasts approximately 1 hour; is free of charge and can be provided for any community entity or group interested in Epinephrine training.
Training for delivery of Epinephrine to an individual is cost effective, quick and can prevent tragedies from occurring every year. The Epi for Dilly Act will give states proper incentives to develop these training programs so that individuals can carry and administer the medication when someone is suffering from a severe allergic reaction.
