[Blindtlk] markey press release On H.R. 4087, Accessible Prescription Drug Labeling Promotion Act

[Chris Nusbaum]

FYI.  This bill is endorsed by all of the major organizations of 
and for the blind:

 





For Immediate Release                               Contact: 
Giselle Barry
202-225-2836

February 28, 2012


 <http://markey.house.gov/> http://markey.house.gov/



Markey Introduces Legislation to Improve Prescription Drug 
Labeling for the
Blind



Advocates for blind and visually-impaired visit Capitol Hill to 
call on
lawmakers to support H.R.  4087, the Accessible Prescription Drug 
Labeling
Promotion Act of 2012



WASHINGTON, D.C.  - With hundreds of advocates visiting Capitol 
Hill today to
call on lawmakers to support his new legislation, Congressman 
Edward J.
Markey (D-Mass.) introduced H.R 4087, the Accessible Prescription 
Drug
Labeling Promotion Act of 2012 to ensure that people who are 
blind or
visually-impaired have full access to the information included on 
their
prescription drug labels.  The legislation convenes a working 
group of
pharmacy representatives, patient and consumer advocates, and 
federal
regulators to develop guidance for pharmacists to ensure that the 
blind or
visually impaired have safe, independent, and comprehensive 
access to their
prescription drug information.  The guidelines will provide 
pharmacies a
range of options that could address the needs of their blind and
visually-impaired customers, taking into account the challenges 
faced by
smaller pharmacies.



"No one should have to sacrifice their independence or safety to 
take their
medication," said Rep.  Markey, senior member of the Energy and 
Commerce
Committee and author of the 21st Century Communications and Video
Accessibility Act.  "Being unable to read prescription labels can 
lead to
unnecessary illness and added emergency room visits.  The 
Accessible
Prescription Drug Labeling Promotion Act helps turn pharmacies 
into partners
for empowering all Americans to take full control of their 
health.  It is
another important step to ensure that individuals who are blind 
can fully
participate in 21st century society."



A copy of the legislation can be found HERE
<http://markey.house.gov/document/2012/rx-labeling-blind-bill-tex
t> .



Examples of best practices that the working group convened by 
Rep.  Markey's
legislation could consider include: Enhanced visual aids such as 
large-print
font, sans-serif font, and high-contrast printing for 
prescription labels;
non-visual aids such as Braille; and auditory aids such as 
digital voice
recorders attached to pill bottles.  The Government 
Accountability Office
(GAO) will review the degree to which pharmacies are in 
compliance,
including determining whether individuals who are blind or 
visually impaired
still lack safe and independent access to prescription drug 
labeling.  The
GAO will issue a report to Congress on the remaining gaps and the 
scope of
the problem.



More than 25 million Americans experience vision loss that 
renders them
unable to read prescription drug labels or other medication 
information
independently.  With the incidence of vision loss expected to 
increase with
the rapidly aging American population, the consequences of being 
unable to
read prescription information pose a significant public health 
challenge.
People who are blind or visually impaired can mistakenly consume 
the wrong
medication, the incorrect dose, or an expired drug because they 
are unable
to read the label or to distinguish between medicine containers.  
Some
patients have reported being victims of pharmacy errors due to 
the inability
to verify the accuracy of a prescription label.  Many with vision 
loss are
forced to become dependent either on sighted companions, 
pharmacists, or
even complete strangers to read them their prescription 
information.  With
Americans taking an average of a dozen prescriptions, those who 
are blind
and visually impaired deserve options that ensure they can take 
their
medications - or help a child take their medications - safely and
accurately.



"Knowing what medication you are taking and the quantity is 
something that
most individuals without vision loss take for granted," said 
Mitch
Pomerantz, president of the American Council of the Blind.  "We 
are grateful
that Representative Markey has introduced legislation that will 
allow for a
greater level of privacy and independence for blind and visually 
impaired
Americans of all ages who take prescription medications."



"For millions of people living with vision loss, being able to 
properly
identify and take prescription medications is risky business just 
because
container labels aren't readable," said Mark Richert, Policy 
Director for
the American Foundation for the Blind.  "We're so grateful for 
Mr.  Markey's
leadership to help us get the attention this serious public 
health challenge
deserves."



"Blind people and those who are losing vision must have access to 
the
critical information contained on prescription labels," said Dr.  
Marc
Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind.  "We 
thank
Congressman Markey for introducing this legislation and look 
forward to
participating in discussions to formulate best practices for 
making this
information accessible."



The legislation is endorsed by the American Council of the Blind, 
the
American Foundation for the Blind, the National Federation for 
the Blind,
and the Perkins School for the Blind.



###



Sara Schaumburg

Health Legislative Assistant
Office of Rep.  Ed Markey (MA -07)

2108 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC 20515
202-225-2836 |  <mailto:sara.schaumburg at mail.house.gov
sara.schaumburg at mail.house.gov


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