FARE Applauds Foundational PBM Reform; Urges Congress to Require PBMs to Stop Blocking Access to New, Needle-Free Epinephrine Administration Options
Needle-free epinephrine could help overcome patient and caregiver hesitancy in emergencies, supporting the life-saving principle of “Epi first, Epi fast”
McLEAN, Va. — Feb. 9, 2026 — FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) today applauds U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) and bipartisan congressional leaders for advancing and enacting pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform legislation signed into law on February 3, 2026. The reforms were included in a larger bill funding the majority of federal government operations, including the Department of Health and Human Services, for fiscal year 2026.
The new law requires greater transparency and accountability among PBMs, an essential first step toward improving patient access. On behalf of the more than 33 million people in the U.S. living with food allergy, FARE continues to call on Congress to require PBMs to add epinephrine administration options beyond auto-injectors to their formularies to ensure families can access the option that is right for them.
Innovations recently brought to market for this patient community include a needle-free nasal spray epinephrine administration option, which may help overcome patient and caregiver barriers to carrying and using epinephrine in an emergency. Access to epinephrine is critical as it is the only medication that can reverse anaphylaxis, and hesitation in administration can have life-threatening consequences.
Many PBMs have blocked patient access to this innovation, forcing patients to choose an auto-injector, even when another option is available.
“We commend congressional leaders for moving this legislation forward but there is still more work to do,” said Sung Poblete, PhD, RN, CEO of FARE. “Our community needs PBMs to be required to include new epinephrine administration options on their formularies. There are few treatment options available for those managing food allergy, and it is unacceptable for PBMs to dictate which life-saving epinephrine administration option patients or caregivers may access. When seconds matter, having needle-free epinephrine available may be the difference between immediate treatment and a dangerous delay—and there is no way to justify that risk.”
FARE urges Congress and federal regulators to build on this foundational reform by addressing PBM formulary practices that limit access to currently available epinephrine administration options. The organization will continue advocating for policies that ensure patients and families can access the epinephrine option that is right for them—when seconds matter.
For more information about FARE, please visit www.foodallergy.org.
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About FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education)
FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) is the leading nonprofit organization that empowers the food allergy patient across the journey of managing their disease. FARE delivers innovation by focusing on three strategic pillars—research, education, and advocacy. FARE's initiatives strive for a future free from food allergy through effective policies and legislation, novel strategies toward prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, and building awareness and community. To learn more, visit FoodAllergy.org.