In 2017, a new California Epinephrine Law went into effect. Businesses and public agencies in California are now defined as “authorized entities, are allowed to keep epinephrine auto injectors on hand to help treat emergency allergic reactions.”. Liability and professional review protections remain in place for physicians issuing a prescription or order for epinephrine auto injectors.
Governor Jerry Brown signed this New California Epinephrine Law and it went into effect on January 1, 2017. It is not a requirement whether a business or an organization would want to stock epinephrine, as some groups may not want the expense or responsibility.
The law allows doctors to prescribe the epinephrine auto injectors to business and organizations and it allows pharmacies to fill them. Before this California Epinephrine Law went into effect, only individuals and K-12 schools were allowed prescriptions.
New law mandates epinephrine in California schools
When Governor Brown signed this new California Epinephrine Law, AB 1386, he denounced the price gouging by Mylan Pharmaceuticals, the maker of EpiPen. He said “We acknowledge the fact that EpiPens are life-saving for a person suffering a severe allergic reaction, but Mylan’s arbitrary manner of pricing and their utter lack of transparency put those in need of the drug at a terrible disadvantage.”
Why is the Epipen Price so High?
But since this new California Epinephrine Law has passed, 2 other epinephrine auto injectors have come back onto the market, Adrenaclick and Auvi-Q. Adrenaclick is priced at $110 and Auvi-Q is free to consumer with insurance.
Organizations wanting epinephrine auto injectors, must meet training requirements on how to administer epinephrine, although they are all very easy to use. Auvi-Q in fact “speaks” to the person administering the medication and walks them through how to administer it step by step. It remains to be seen how many businesses and organizations want to keep epinephrine in stock now this new California epinephrine law has passed.