EpiPen Price Cap Bill Passes New York Legislature – EpiPens to Cost $100

McLEAN, Va.—June 4, 2024—FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education), the leading nonprofit organization engaged in food allergy education and advocacy—and the largest provider of charitable support for food allergy research in the U.S.— today celebrated the recent passage of its top legislative priority – making life-saving epinephrine auto-injectors more affordable – as the New York State Legislature passed A.6425A – O’Donnell/S.7114A – Rivera last week.

The bill, S.7114A, passed the State Senate on Wednesday, May 30 without any negative votes and on Thursday, May 31, passed the State Assembly by a margin of 144-2 and will now head to Governor Hochul’s desk where she is expected to sign the bill into law in the coming months. Passing epi price cap legislation is one of FARE’s top state policy priorities.

“Two million New York food allergy families deserve life-saving medicine at a price they can afford,” said Sung Poblete, PhD, RN, CEO of FARE. “And now, thanks to the work of Sen. Rivera, Assemblymember O’Donnell, and committed advocates like Stacey Saiontz, Jill Mindlin, and the organization, Allergy Advocates New York, the state’s food allergy families will no longer have to fear if they have enough money to purchase the only medicine that can save their lives.”

Once signed into law, the legislation will cap the cost of an epinephrine auto-injector two-pack at $100 beginning on January 1, 2026. FARE, working with its Advocacy Committee leadership, lobbying firm, Ostroff Associates, and the Rochester-based Allergy Advocates New York pushed for the last year to pass this bill.

Said Stacey Saiontz, FARE’s Advocacy Committee Co-Chair, “Thank you to the New York Legislature for recognizing the importance of health equity. Implementing a price cap for epinephrine auto-injectors helps ensure families no longer have to decide between paying for the only antidote for anaphylaxis or their food and rent/mortgage.”

Added her son, Jared, who along with Stacey was in Albany lobbying on behalf of the epi price cap bill on Tuesday, May 14 during Food Allergy Awareness Week, “As someone living with life threatening food allergies, I know how important it is to always have access to an epinephrine auto-injector. This legislation will ensure that everyone is able to have access to their life-saving medicine at all times. People's lives should not be put on the line because they cannot afford this life-saving medicine.”

Jill Mindlin, FARE’s other Advocacy Committee Co-Chair said, “We are so grateful to Senator Rivera, Assemblymember O’Donnell, and all of the legislators and advocates who worked so hard to pass this legislation. Their tireless efforts will result in expanding access to this life saving medication to those who couldn’t previously afford it. No one should have to decide between putting food on their table and buying life-saving medication for their child; and with this law, they won’t have to.”

Jill’s daughter, Maya Konoff, who also lobbied in support of the bill, said, “As somebody who has lived my entire life with life-threatening food allergies and who has been saved by an epinephrine autoinjector on many occasions, I can’t imagine what I would do if I couldn’t afford this life-saving medicine. I am so grateful to all those have worked to make this drug affordable for all.”
FARE is grateful for the work of Jon Terry, Toni Taylor, and the organization, Allergy Advocates New York for organizing its annual Albany lobbying day on Tuesday, May 14. New York’s food allergy families converged on Albany and visited more than two dozen offices in support of this legislation, the epi in public venues bill, and legislation requiring allergen labeling for prepackaged foods.

Said Toni Taylor, Executive Director of Allergy Advocates New York, “We salute the New York Legislature for their support of reducing the financial burden on New Yorkers managing life threatening allergies. We can all breathe easier knowing that our friends and family can afford to have on hand the only medication that can save their lives in an anaphylaxis emergency.”

Concluded Jason Linde, FARE’s Senior Vice President of Advocacy, “FARE went all-in to support this bill, conducting more than 20 separate grassroots actions to ensure the food allergy community’s voices were heard, and having Ostroff Associates’ Dan Fuller to oversee our effort on the ground in Albany. The Empire State is now the biggest state in the country to cap the cost of epinephrine auto-injectors and bring economic justice and peace of mind to New York’s food allergy families.”