Sen. Julie Morrison wants to make EpiPens more affordable for Illinois residents. | Photo Courtesy of Julie Morrison/Facebook
Sen. Julie Morrison wants to make EpiPens more affordable for Illinois residents. | Photo Courtesy of Julie Morrison/Facebook
The Illinois State Senate passed a new bill requiring health insurers to cover epinephrine injectors (EpiPens) that are medically necessary for all ages.
The legislation from Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Highwood) comes in response to the high price of EpiPens, which for some people is unaffordable despite having a need.
"Expanded insurance coverage for EpiPens has passed the Senate," Morrison said in an April 22 post to her Facebook page in support of the legislation. "Nobody with a serious allergy should go without an epinephrine injector simply because they cannot afford one."
This is not the first time Morrison has come out in support of Illinoisans' access to EpiPens.
In 2019 Morrison supported a bill in the Illinois State Senate that mandated health insurers to cover EpiPens for minors. This new law goes beyond that and requires EpiPens to be covered by insurers for all ages. Morrison supported similar legislation last year, but the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic delayed it.
EpiPens open a person's lung airways and narrow blood vessels. The medical item can save the life of a person dealing with a severe allergic reaction. Morrison justified the bill by citing increases in food allergies.
The bill passed the Illinois Senate April 21 and will now move to the House for debate.
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