October Is Medication Safety Awareness for the Blind Month

Medication errors can lead to illness, hospitalization or even death. Now imagine you can’t read your pharmacy prescription labels. If you are visually impaired, the danger of mistakes with your medication is real. Medication Safety Awareness for the Blind (MSAB) is a service project during the month of October that works to save lives. 

MSAB is an initiative that spreads the word about FREE accessible prescription labels that are available throughout the country for individuals who are visually impaired. One such option is ScripTalk. 

Through this program, an individual can receive a FREE talking prescription reader, or download a free mobile app that will read all their prescription label information out loud, including: drug name, dosage, instructions, instructions, warnings, pharmacy information, doctor name, prescription number and date. 

This is a life-saving awareness program that can make a real difference.

More than 7.5 million individuals are considered legally blind in the United States, according to the National Federation ofthe Blind.  As our population ages, this number continues to rise. 

To learn more about MSAB and become an advocate, visit https://mailchi.mp/envisionamerica/msab or call 1-800-890-1180 to find a pharmacy near you that offers accessible labels. 

Oregon Pharmacists Now Required to Provide Prescription Readers for Blind, Visually Impaired Patients

Oregon's governor has signed a new law into effect which requires pharmacies in the state to provide prescription readers to blind and visually impaired individuals. This is a life saving measure for those who cannot read their medication prescription labels.

KLCC, an Oregon NPR station has produced an audio story and written story on this new law.

For the written article, click here.

For the audio MP3 file, click here.

Here is a link to the law's language.

Oregon Passes Talking Prescription Reader Legislation

Both the House of Representatives and the State Senate in Oregon have passed new legislation to require pharmacies to provide prescription readers for patients who are blind, visually impaired or print impaired. The State Senate passed the proposed law late last week.

House Bill 2935 will now go back to the State House of Representatives for agreement on some minor amendments made in the Senate.

Once approved, it will then go to the governor to sign into law.

For full details, click here.