Washington State Prescription Labeling Bill Passes House

 

 February 9, 2022, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 185 sponsored by Representatives Thai, Cody, Gregerson, Macri, Santos, Slatter, Valdez, Pollet, and Riccelliwas passed by the Washington House. 

This bill will require the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission to create rules for pharmacies to provide dual language prescription labels for at least the 15 most commonly spoken languages in Washington and rules for providing audible, large print and Braille prescription labels for those who are visually impaired.

Even before the bill was proposed the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission was already discussing similar rulemaking for pharmacies. The bill will provide some perimeters and deadlines to guide them through the process.

At the January 17th House Health Care and Wellness hearing the committee chair, Rep. Cody said: "When these students brought this issue to me and discussed it, I was embarrassed to realize our current law had not taken this into effect.  We already paid for and made sure providers have language translators, but it never occurred to me that when they go down to the pharmacy they don't get their drugs in a language they understand. And I think it is a miracle we haven't had more people die from getting their prescriptions that they are not able to read."

Other legislators and physicians testified about their own personal experience when only a child with limited understanding of English and medical information being asked to translate for parents or family members.

The bill passed the House  64-32 (with 2 excused) out of the House.  It will now proceed to the Senate which had it's own version of the bill SB5840 sponsored by Senator Keiser.

Follow Bill and Read Full Text 

Ohio House Bill 448 - Prescription Reader Coverage Bill

Fortitude and persistence are two words that describe the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio and their work toward making Ohio a safe and accessible place for those with vision loss. Their belief that blindness doesn’t stop you from living the life you want with a focus on removing barriers drives their pursuit of legislation for the provision and insurance coverage of audible prescription readers in all Ohio pharmacies. Ohio House Bill 448 would do just that if it passes into law.

This bill would help blind and visually impaired patients manage their medications more safely.  “Fortunately, I have sighted help when I need to know what a medication is” shares Colleen Roth, a member of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio.   “I had a friend who was blind and did not have sighted help to read prescription bottles. He simply put them in different places and guessed what they were. He has since passed away so I am sharing this in case others have done the same thing.”

Another member, Todd Elzey recently posted on Facebook, “I have more than one medication for which the instructions say: store at room temperature away from light and moisture, do not store in the bathroom. How many people store medications in the bathroom medicine cabinet? I never gave it a second thought until I first accessed one of the labels on a prescription bottle [using a prescription reader.]”

Supporters are hoping the bill will finally be passed this legislative session.  In 2019 Representative Richard Brown and a dozen co-sponsors introduced bill HB214. That previous bill was assigned to the Health Committee and had two hearings and garnered the support of vision advocates, NFB of Ohio, Cleveland Sight Center, Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Southeastern Ohio Center for Independent Living and of pharmacists in the Ohio Pharmacists Association. However, the bill was tabled due to more pressing issues during the pandemic and expired at the end of 2020.

The recently reintroduced bill HB448 has slightly different language from the prior bill including a new provision that insurance companies cover the cost of the prescription reader device if one is needed helping defray the costs for pharmacies and patients. The bill has been assigned to the Ohio House Insurance Committee.  No hearing dates have been set yet.  

#HB448  #AccessSavesLives  #National Federation of the Blind of Ohio

NFB 2021 Break Out Session: Accessible Prescription Labeling Legislation Timeline and Current Events

A brief overview of the history of accessible prescription labeling standards development and legislation followed by overview of current bills in various states. This presentation was given during the National Federation of the Blind's annual 2021 Convention.

The Safety Benefits of Dual Language Prescription Labels

As the U.S. population of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) residents grows, several state legislatures have enacted laws requiring pharmacies to provide prescription labels in the language of the patient’s choice to ensure medication safety and adherence.

The author of a recent blog published by Pharmacy Times, highlights some of the benefits these multi-lingual labels can provide patients. For example, these labels can help drive down patient medication-related errors and drive up medication adherence as patients better understand label instructions.

For a full look at this article, click here.

Honorable Santiago Negrón Introduces Talking Prescription Bill to Puerto Rico Senate

  

 

Honorable María de Lourdes Santiago Negrón has introduced bill PS 0287 to require talking prescription labels for the blind and visually impaired.  "...the indicators used by the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics, according to data generated by the U.S. Census Bureau, estimate that people with severe vision problems or blindness represent 6.1% of the population [of Puerto Rico]. This represents a total of 214,000 people with severe visual impairment or blindness, which is equivalent to a population greater than the total number of inhabitants of the municipality of Bayamón." If passed this legislation would require pharmacies to provide talking prescription labels to assist in the safe management of medication for people who are blind and visually impaired.  For more information about the bill's text and status visit: https://sutra.oslpr.org/osl/esutra/MedidaReg.aspx?rid=138318

Two Oregon Nurses Explain Why Dual-Language Prescription Labels Improve Safety & Adherence

Two Oregon nurses explain why it is vital that pharmacies provide prescription labels in the language their Limited English Proficiency patients are most comfortable understanding. 

Kristen Beiers-Jones, RN, MN, from the Oregon Health Science University School of Nursing; and Kate Ballard, BSN, RN, have both worked directly with patients who speak English as a Second Language and struggle to understand their prescription label information. They've witnessed the errors that can occur and are leading a movement to improve patient safety for those with Limited English Proficiency through dual language medication labeling. 

For more information, email the nurses at RxTranslationLaw@gmail.com.  

Nevada Dual Language Bill Sponsored by Majority Leader Assemblywoman Teresa Benitez-Thompson

 

Assembly Bill 177 was born out of Assemblywoman Benitez-Thompson's experience as a hospice social worker where she saw seniors and families struggle to manage medications with limited English proficiency. During the Commerce and Labor committee hearing there was support from many groups and discussion on what supports are already available to those with limited English proficiency.  Those representing pharmacy groups expressed their support of measures to assist patients with limited English proficiency but were concerned with the added time and expense dual language labels would require. Benitez-Thompson plans to continue to work with stakeholders to address the best public policy and bill wording.  View the first bill hearing here and read the bill text here.