Model Bill:
(1) A pharmacy shall notify each person to whom a prescription drug is dispensed that an accessible/translated prescription label is available to the person upon request at no additional cost.
(2) If a person informs the pharmacy that the person identifies as a person who is blind, visually impaired, otherwise print disabled, or limited English proficient the pharmacy shall provide to the person an accessible prescription label affixed to the bottle that is:
(a) Available to the person in a timely manner comparable to other patient wait time and lasting for at least the duration of the prescription; and
(b) Appropriate to the disability, preference and language of the person making the request through use of audible, large print, Braille or translated labels; and
(c) Conforms to the format specific best practices established by the United States Access Board and National CLAS Standards; and
(d) Contains all the label information required by state statute and federal law including cautions, warnings and any information available to sighted, English proficient individuals reading the printed label.
(3) A pharmacy shall ensure that the prescription label is compatible with the prescription reader if a reader is provided.
(4) The requirements of this section do not apply to prescription drugs both dispensed and administered by an institutional pharmacy or correctional institution.
(5) The board of pharmacy shall promulgate regulations necessary to implement this section.
(6) “Prescription reader” means a device that is designed to audibly convey the information contained on the label of a prescription drug.
(7) An "Institutional pharmacy" means a pharmacy that is part of or is operated in conjunction with any of the following health care facilities: hospital, ambulatory surgical facility, nursing home, residential care facility, freestanding rehabilitation facility, hospice care program, home and community-based services provider, residential facility for individuals with mental illness or developmental disabilities, or any similar health care facility.
Laws/Regulations Passed:
Florida Board of Pharmacy Regulations
64B16—28.108 (2023) http://www.flrules.org/gateway/ruleno.asp?id=64B16-28.108&Section=0
Hawaii Accessible Prescription Labeling Passed, Awaiting Governor's Signature.
Maryland Accessible Prescription Labeling Law:
Washington Dual Language Bills are Sine Die but the Board of Pharmacy, seeing the need, initiated Rulemaking without a law directing them to.
SB 5840 (2022) https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2021-22/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5840.pdf?q=20220111165813
Puerto Rico Audible Labeling Law:
Tennessee Accessible Prescription Labeling Law:
Nevada Dual Language Labeling Law:
Oregon Audible Labeling Law:
Oregon Dual Language Labeling Law:
Nevada Audible Labeling Law:
Bills Introduced:
Oklahoma - Dual Language Bill
Maine - Translation and Interpretation in Hospitals (including pharmacy)
Nevada - Amendments to Dual Language Law
Virginia - Dual Language Bill
Missouri Accessible Prescription Labels Acts Introduced:
HB 80 (2023) https://www.house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB80&year=2023&code=RHB 2834 (2022) https://www.house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB2834&year=2022&code=R