The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) in partnership with the California Department of Education (CDE) has issued a statewide standing order to help reduce morbidity and mortality associated with anaphylaxis by facilitating the distribution and administration of epinephrine in California schools. This standing order authorizes a California school (public, charter or private), school district or county office of education to obtain epinephrine auto-injectors for elementary schools, junior high schools, middle schools, and high schools. Administration of epinephrine, via regular epinephrine auto-injector or junior epinephrine auto-injector, to a person suffering, or reasonably believed to be suffering, from an anaphylactic reaction by school nurses or trained personnel is authorized in accordance with Education Code 49414.
Training standards for the administration of epinephrine auto-injectors are available from the California Department of Education. Additionally, the standing order can be redeemed for epinephrine auto-injectors through EPIPEN4SCHOOLS. This program offers four free epinephrine auto-Injectors to qualifying schools nationwide at no cost. To avoid shipment delays, we highly encourage schools to avoid ordering during the months of August and September.
For more information on how to apply and learn who is eligible visit the Epinephrine Standing Order Application webpage [standingorders.cdph.ca.gov]. We will also be spending time during the CDPH School Health Update Meeting & Office Hours today at 11am discussing this program and answering questions. We encourage all to attend to learn more.
General FAQ's
- County offices of education and local education agencies may generate a standing order for multiple schools.
- Using the standing order at a local pharmacy may result in an out-of-pocket cost that is not covered by Medi-Cal. Free auto-injectors are available to schools at EpiPen4Schools.com.
- Total quantities and type, regular vs junior auto-injectors, are included at the bottom of the standing order and will vary per application.
- The maximum quantity of auto-injectors allowed by this standing order, either regular or junior, is four per school, per calendar year.
- Refills can be obtained within the year if Epinephrine is used in the course of treatment of anaphylaxis at a school site and will not count towards the 4 device limit per school site, per year.
- The standing order can be renewed annually by completing another online application form such that a new set of Epinephrine auto-injectors are available for each school site each year.
- This standing order is acceptable at all pharmacy's throughout California, at an out-of-pocket cost, and will automatically expire one year from the date it is signed.
Resources
Questions?
Email SafeSchoolsTeam@cdph.ca.gov.
