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

Maine Board of Pharmacy to Conduct Review of Available Pharmacy Accommodations in the State

 

Maine House Bill 172 passed as amended, requiring the evaluation by the Board of Pharmacy of existing accommodations available to persons who are visually impaired to access prescription information. By January 15, 2022, the Maine Board of Pharmacy shall submit a report, including suggested legislation, based on its evaluation to the Joint Standing Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services.

 

The board shall gather information from pharmacies, including the number of persons who are visually impaired served by that pharmacy, the accommodations currently provided by that pharmacy and any barriers for a pharmacy to provide accommodations requested by a person who is visually impaired.

 

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.