Bunning releases hold on safe-needle measure

Benjamin Grove

Monday, Oct. 16, 2000 | 11:03 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- A bill that would require safer hypodermic needles and protect health care workers from accidental sticks could be approved this week.

Rep. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., has released a hold he had placed on the bill. A firm in Bunning's home state, Lexington-based MedPro, Inc., objected to the bill because the legislation advocates new designs for safer needles, such as syringes with retractable needles.

The bill did not direct health care workers to use needle disposal devices, which MedPro manufactures. MedPro's trademarked Needlyzer is an $895 portable needle incinerator.

Bunning stepped in to halt the bill on behalf of MedPro in an attempt to change the bill's language. But late last week he released his hold on the unchanged bill. Bunning's office did not return calls seeking comment.

Bunning released the hold after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration sent Bunning a letter assuring him that the bill advocates safer needle designs but does not direct health care workers to stop using needle destruction devices like MedPro's Needlyzer.

Health care lobbyists had been urging Bunning to release the bill so the Senate could vote on it this week, which could be the last for Congress this year. The House already passed the bill.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., is an original co-sponsor and strong supporter of the bill. He hopes to attach the legislation to another bill as an amendment, a spokeswoman said.