As an exciting year-end surprise, an audible prescription labeling bill has been introduced in Michigan. HB 6143 authored by Representative Julie M. Rogers (District 41) has six co-sponsors already including Mentzer (61), Rheingans (47), Hood (81), Wilson (32), Tsernoglou (75), and Scott (7).
This straight forward bill includes clauses for 1) notification of patients that prescription readers are available 2) provision of readers to patients who are visually impaired, blind or print disabled 2) provision of labels that are compatible with the prescription reader 3) an exception is made for drugs dispensed by a health profession for inpatient administration and finally 4) allowing the Board of Pharmacy to promulgate rules to implement the new law.
The NFB of Michigan and the Michigan Council for the Blind and Visually Impaired have been laying the ground work and discussing this legislation with law makers for almost a decade.