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.

Oklahoma's Opioid Case Against Johnson & Johnson Goes to Court

The case filed by Oklahoma against Johnson & Johnson over its possible involvement in the opioid epidemic has begun. NBC calls it a precedent-setting trial. The state’s attorney general has accused Johnson & Johnson of misleading doctors for years by de-emphasizing the risks of opioids and instead touting the benefits.

Johnson & Johnson disputes the allegations and is fighting them in court. Oklahoma’s attorney general has accused other big pharma companies with similar allegations. Some of those companies have settled prior to going to trial. It appears that Johnson & Johnson will see the case through in court.

See NBC's coverage below: