Is Something Better Than Nothing?

Iowa's 2026 accessible labeling bill has passed committee with some amendments and has been renamed HF 2585.  It will be eligible for a floor vote beginning Feb 24th.  

The bill requires the Board of Pharmacy to annually publish a list of pharmacies that provide accessible prescription labeling, require pharmacies to let patients know accessible labels, guides and bag tags are available, and to either provide the labels, guides and bag tags in accessible format or refer patient to another pharmacy (on the list) that can do so. The amended version took away pharmacy reimbursement by insurance and reference distance in the referral clause. 

There is one issue with this state bill: it contradicts the federal Americans with Disabilities Act which requires every business to provide equal access to services and has no provision for referring patrons to another establishment that is already providing accessibility. 

Furthermore, this bill, if passed as written, will be hard for the Iowa Board of Pharmacy to enforce.  Who will be required to provide labels and who will be allowed to refer to another pharmacy?  Either the rule will be unfairly enforced or not enforced at all. 

Those who are blind or visually impaired are already limited in their choice of pharmacy due to driving restrictions. They need to use a pharmacy that is within walking or public transportation distance or provides free delivery to obtain prescriptions independently. 

Iowans must ask themselves if they want to accept "something is better than nothing" and be told where to go?  Or fight for access for everyone at every pharmacy?  

Read ADA compliant copy of bill here:  HF2585

Find your Iowa Legislator here:  https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/find

Missouri, what are we waiting for?

 

Disability rights advocates in Missouri say five to eight years is about the average time it takes to get a disability bill passed in Missouri. Could the introduction of Missouri House Bill 3211 be the ticket to accessible prescription labeling in Missouri this year?  

Representative Yolanda Young (D) has sponsored an accessible prescription labeling bill for the last five years but in a state where there is a Republican majority in both chambers it has been hard to move the bill beyond committee.  

The ADA was passed 36 years ago and the technology to do this has been around for over 25 years.  So consumers want to know: Missouri, what are we waiting for? 

 

Iowa HF 2033 Includes Health Carrier Reimbursement

Iowa General Assembly, Health and Human Services Vice Chair, Brett Barker (R, Dist 51) has introduced a new accessible prescription labeling bill HF 2033.  

HF2033 has some significant differences from the previous 2024 and 2025 accessible labeling bills which address pharmacy concerns about redundancy, timing and reimbursement:

• Allows pharmacies to refer patients to another pharmacy within a reasonable distance to provides accessible labels, bag tags and medical guides already.  
• Provides "a reasonable development period" for pharmacies before the requirement to provide accessible labels in a comparable time frame to other patients.
• The Board of Pharmacy must annually publish a list of pharmacies that provide accessibility measures on their website.
• Health Carriers/Insurance shall pay an enhanced dispensing fee to reimburse the costs associated with accessibility measures under this section

The idea of health carrier reimbursement is also a key component of Ohio's current bill HB374.