Rep. Mason Passes Measure to Cap Cost of Twin-Pack EpiPens at $60

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, spearheaded a measure to make healthcare more affordable by capping insured people’s costs of twin-packs of epinephrine injectors at $60. That measure recently passed the House and Senate unanimously and is advancing to Gov. Pritzker’s desk for signature.

“I know firsthand the extreme fear of knowing that your child could have an anaphylactic emergency with only minutes to receive lifesaving epinephrine,” Mason said. “I also know what it’s like to be faced with the choice between paying the mortgage and paying for lifesaving medication. No one should be forced to make those heart wrenching decisions, and I hope this bill will allow Illinois families to rest easier knowing they can have essential medication on hand should they need it.”

Mason introduced House Bill 3639 to cap costs of epinephrine injectors. Commonly called EpiPens, these injectors are vital medical tools to save lives during major allergy attacks and other events leading to anaphylactic shock and restricted breathing. Hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans own EpiPens for personal safety, and other institutions, such most schools, also keep stocks of epinephrine injectors for safety.

State Sen. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, carried this bill in the Senate.

“This is a major victory for families struggling to afford this life-saving medication,” said Halpin. “With corporate profits at an all-time high, it’s time to say enough is enough. People’s lives shouldn’t depend on whether or not they can come up with $500 bucks.”

According to the Food Allergy Research and Education organization (FARE), 85 million Americans are living with life threatening food allergies, and every three minutes, a severe allergic reaction to a food sends someone to the emergency room. FARE’s Senior Vice President, Advocacy, Jason Linde, said: “On behalf of the more than 1.2 million state residents with potentially life-threatening food allergies, FARE is grateful for Rep. Mason, Senator Halpin, and the food allergy champions in the Illinois State House and Senate who decided that it was unconscionable that life-saving medicine should cost more than a mortgage payment and made it possible for all families to afford the medicine they need. Here’s hoping that other states follow Illinois’ lead.”