If a person with a visual or print impairment struggles to read a prescription label, it’s time for the pharmacy to take action. Accessible prescription labels have been available since 2003 and are options that any pharmacy can implement. Formats include large print labels, Braille labels, and talking labels and prescription readers. Controlled Substance Safety Labels (CSSLs) are the latest addition to the options that keep patients safe. The National Council on Disability features a guide to help pharmacists with providing labeling accommodations: Best Practices for Prescription Drug Labeling A person has a right to reasonable accommodation to equal access, including the critical information on a prescription label. Not being able to read a prescription label can lead to medication errors, a trip to the ER, or worse. Anyone denied access to information can file a complaint with Health and Human Services or their state’s board of pharmacy and cite the protection laws discussed below.
The FDA’s Safety Innovation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) require pharmacies to provide means of effective communications to people with disabilities. ACA’s Section 1557 is the specific civil rights provision which prohibits discrimination on the ground of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in certain health programs and activities.
The Section 1557 final rule applies to any health program or activity if any part of which receives funding from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), such as hospitals, doctors or pharmacies who receive Medicaid or Medicare payments, and any health program that HHS itself administers.
Consumers who have requested accommodation by a pharmacy that receives funding from Medicaid, Medicare or the Department of Health and Human Services and have been denied can file a complaint with HHS.gov. In turn, HHS will give guidance to the pharmacy on their rights and responsibilities.
Anyone, regardless of which pharmacy they use, can express their concerns regarding the need for accessibility or denial of accommodations to their State Board of Pharmacy. The purpose of a State Board of Pharmacy is to serve the public by protecting the health, safety and welfare of the people of that state. Go to https://nabp.pharmacy/boards-of-pharmacy/ to access your State Board of Pharmacy to find out how to file a complaint. Alternatively, call your State Board of Pharmacy via the phone number listed below:
Alaska 907-465-2550
Arizona 602-771-2727
Arkansas 501-682-0190
California 916-574-7900
Colorado 303-894-7800
Connecticut 860-713-6070
Delaware 302-744-4500
District of Columbia 202-724-8800
Florida 850-245-4292
Georgia 404-651-8000
Guam 671-735-7412
Hawaii 808-586-2695
Idaho 208-334-2356
Illinois 800-560-6420
Indiana 317-234-2067
Iowa 515-281-5944
Kansas 785-296-4056
Kentucky 502-564-7910
Louisiana 225-925-6496
Maine 207-624-8686
Maryland 410-764-4755
Massachusetts 617-973-0800
Michigan 517-373-8068
Mississippi 601-899-8880
Missouri 573-751-0091
Montana 406-841-2371
Nebraska 402-471-2118
Nevada 775-850-1440
New Hampshire 603-271-2350
New Jersey 973-504-6450
New Mexico 505-222-9830
North Carolina 919-246-1050
North Dakota 701-328-9535
Ohio 614-466-4143
Oklahoma 405-521-3815
Oregon 971-673-0001
Pennsylvania 717-783-7156
Puerto Rico 787-765-2929 ext. 6645
Rhode Island 401-222-2837
South Carolina 803-896-4707
South Dakota 605-362-2737
Tennessee 615-741-2718
Texas 512-305-8000
Utah 801-530-6628
Vermont 802-828-5032
Virgin Islands 340-713-6803
Virginia 804-367-4456
Washington 360-236-4946
Wisconsin 608-266-2112
Wyoming 307-634-9636