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On Stay Safe Rx you will find current events and resources advocating for safe prescription labeling practices. When patients struggle to see, read or understand their prescription labels they are more likely to take the wrong medication, take it improperly, or not take it at all. Pharmacies can make prescription labels more accessible by incorporating dual-language, audible, large print, Braille, plain language, and user-friendly designs. Check out the resources in the side bar to assist your own advocacy efforts or browse through posts to see what others are working on or have achieved.

#UniteforSafeCare Campaign Led by the Patient Safety Movement

Unite For Safe Care 

A plethora of resources for patients searching for ways to make their hospital stays safer can be found at PatientSafetyMovement.org which is sponsoring a campaign called #UniteForSafeCare.  Their resource page includes campaign info graphics, book recommendations and downloadable patient safety guides from the Batz Foundation for before, during and after your hospital visit.

WHO Global Campaign: Medication Without Harm

Check out the World Health Organizations Global Campaign: Medication Without Harm which is designed to increase public awareness of the safety issues related to medication use and the need for safer medication practices. This campaign encourages everyone from doctors, pharmacists, caregivers and patients to take extra steps to know more about their medications, what they are for and how to safely use them. Get resources and find out more at:  https://www.who.int/patientsafety/medication-safety/campaign/en/ 

 

Medication Safety Awareness for the Blind Campagin


In October the Medication Safety Awareness for the Blind Campaign focuses on drawing awareness to the need for accessible prescription labeling at the pharmacy counter. Accessible prescription labels come in audible, large print, Braille, and dual language formats. Promotional and educational materials as well as social media resources are available all year round here.

 


Oregon Board of Pharmacy Publishes Official Rule Requiring Pharmacies to Provide Prescription Label Readers

 After some discussion, the Oregon Board of Pharmacy has published the final rule requiring pharmacies to notify patients that prescription readers are available and to provide the readers to patients who request one. This device is particularly vital for individuals who are visually impaired, blind or print impaired. 

The rule went into effect June 23, 2020 and is the culmination of state legislation that was enacted in 2019. 

For full details on the rule, as well as more, click here

Health & Well-Being Webinars

Health and Well Being Webinars sponsored by En-Vision America will focus on a variety of health and mental wellness topics with the visually impaired in mind.  The first webinar will focus on ways to thrive during uncertain times whether that be due to recent vision loss or COVID-19 precautions. New webinars will be introduced periodically.  Access current and past webinars at: https://mailchi.mp/envisionamerica/healthandwellbeing


New Accessible Prescription Labeling Bill Introduced in Minnesota


Interior view of the minnesota senate

February 13, 2020 - Minnesota State Senators Newton, Hoffman and Abeler have sponsored senate bill SF3152 which would instruct pharmacists to dispense prescription drugs to a patient who is visually impaired or blind using an audible prescription drug container label or a braille prescription drug container label unless the patient requests a regular container label.  The pharmacy cannot charge an extra fee or surcharge for providing an audible or braille label. 

The bill has been referred to Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee which currently has over 300 bills on its docket.  Supporters of SF3152 are encouraged to contact their senator and request they co-sponsor the bill and to write letters of support to the Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee so it will be put on the agenda for consideration.

Rural America Lists Top Concerns as Drugs and Economy

A poll of about 2,700 individuals living in rural America discovered that 25 percent list opioid or other drug addiction as the "most serious problem" their community is handling. This comes in above economic concerns, which pulled in 21 percent.


"These findings suggest that in today's economically stretched rural United States, opioid or other drug addiction or abuse has emerged as an equal problem with economic concerns," study authors from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation said.

For a full breakdown of the results the study, published in JAMA Network Open, click here.

American Academy of Ophthamology Discovers Some Serious Gaps in Eye Health Awareness

As the number of people with potentially blinding eye diseases is expected to double in the years ahead, the American Academy of Ophthamology says its latest poll has discovered some concerning knowledge gaps in the general population.

Only around one-third of adults (37%) know you do not always experience symptoms before you lose vision to eye diseases. And less than half (47%) are aware your brain can make it difficult to know if you are losing your vision by adapting to vision loss.

For full details of the survey, conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the American Academy of Ophthamology, click here.

January Is Glaucoma Awareness Month

Glaucoma can sometimes be known as the silent sight stealer. The only way to diagnose glaucoma is to have a comprehensive dilated eye exam to detect the disease in its early stages. 


By catching the disease early, it allows people to get treatments that can slow or prevent vision loss. Treatments for glaucoma include prescription eye drops, laser treatment and surgery.

The LighHouse Guide offers some advice on keeping an eye out for this sneaky disease in a recent article posted here


Accessible Prescription Label Law Timeline

Note: Bills with strike through mean they were not passed but were included in history for reference.  Bills in italic are still pending in committee.

 1973: Rehabilitation Act banned discrimination on the basis of disability by recipients of federal funds

1977: Section 504 regulations were issued. It is these regulations which form the basis of the ADA

1990: Americans with Disabilities Act signed into law

2003: Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. This Act required the DHHS to study how to make prescription pharmaceutical information, including drug labels and usage instructions, accessible for the blind and low vision. The DHHS formulated study questions and the AFB responded with information about the blind population, access to prescription information, and existing and emerging technologies.  They made some recommendations that the National Eye Health Education Program conduct an education program and publish materials letting patients and pharmacies know about assistive technologies and modalities for accessing prescription drug information. The NEHEP director, Neyal Ammary-Risch says that they never performed this work due to budget cuts and because the AFB published some really good information to their website and worked with the Pharmaceutical industry to create standards regarding labels (this occurred in 2012).

2004: Veterans Administration Announced the Standardization of Audible Prescription Reading Devices with ScripTalk as the standard.

2009: Indiana HB1627 introduced to require Braille or recorded audio device for prescription labels.  Engrossed.  No further action.

2009: Massachusetts Senate Bill 445 introduced An Act Relative to Coverage for Prescription Drug Voice Synthesizers. No further action.

2010: Indiana HB1240  introduced various insurance matters including language for accessible prescription drug labeling.  House Engrossed. No further action.

2010: ADA Amendments provided detailed and clarified instructions on how public accommodations—specifically citing pharmacies—must provide auxiliary aids and services to blind or low-vision customers in order to provide effective communication. The new language goes on specifically to list large-print materials, Braille materials, and accessible electronic and information technology as recommended solutions.

2012: Indiana House Bill 1301 introduced bill to provide tax credit for pharmacies piloting incorporation of assistive technologies into packaging of prescriptions for blind or visually impaired.  No further action.

2012: Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act

  • February 2012: HR 4087 sponsor, Congressman Edward J. Markey D-Mass
  • June 26, 2012: Senate passes S3187  Sponsor, Senator Tom Harken, D-IA
  • July 9, 2012: Signed by President Barack Obama
  • January 2015: Senator Markey requests feedback from major pharmacies on their progress of implementing “Best Practices
  • December 9, 2016  Government Accountability Office reports:  Actions Needed to Increase Awareness of Best Practices for Accessible Labels for Individuals Who are Blind or Visually Impaired”  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-17-115
  • July 10, 2013: United States Access Board releases “Best Practices
  • National Council of Disability creates brochure. Full education campaign unfunded so not completed.

2016: Affordable Care Act Section 1557  Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities final rule issued.  § 92.202 Effective communication for individuals with disabilities.  A covered entity must provide auxiliary aids and services to individuals with disabilities free of charge and in a timely manner when necessary to ensure an equal opportunity to participate and benefit from the entity’s health programs or activities.

2016  Government Accountability Office reports:  Actions Needed to Increase Awareness of Best Practices for Accessible Labels for Individuals Who are Blind or Visually Impaired”  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-17-115

2017 Nevada SB 131 Requires pharmacies to tell customers that audible prescription reader is available. Enacted into Law

2018 Ohio HB 659 Engrossed. No further action.

2019 Oregon HB 2935 Requires pharmacies to notify and provide patients with audible prescription labels  Enacted Into Law.

2019  Pennsylvania HB 125 require pharmacies to make accessible prescription drug container labels available to individuals who are deaf blind and visually-impaired when requested. No further action.

2019 Massachusetts S1252 legislation relative to accessible prescription labeling. No further action.

2019 Ohio HB 214 shall notify the person purchasing the drug that a prescription reader can be made available. If that person requests a prescription reader,the terminal distributor shall provide a prescription reader forat least the duration of the prescription. In Health Committee

2020 Minnesota SF 3152 and HF3370 requiring pharmacists to dispense a prescription using an

audible container label or braille container label. In Committees.