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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Friends and Colleagues,</p><p class=MsoNormal>Some of the lists have been discussing the decision by James Pharmacy to begin charging for accessible prescription labels effective September 1, 2024. I am sharing a letter I sent to the Pharmacy below. I will keep you posted on any response I receive. In the meantime, the affiliate is working to gather both a list of other pharmacies that provide ScripTalk and other accessible options without charging customers as well as a list of avenues available to patients who wish to file complaints.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Santosh Dwarkar,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am writing to you in my capacity as President and CEO of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland (NFBMD). NFBMD is Maryland’s oldest and largest organization of and for blind and low individuals. A number of our members have shared that you have recently contacted them to inform that you will be charging them to provide accessible prescription labels when filling their medications effective September 1, 2024. Several of those individuals have informed you and your staff that this action is unlawful. They report that they’ve been told by members of your staff that James Pharmacy does not care if this practice is unlawful and intends to do so anyway.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Since 2012, James Pharmacy has been providing accessible prescription labels to blind and low vision patients with ScripTalk labels at no cost in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, <a href="https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gho§ion=12-505.1&enactments=False&archived=False">Maryland law §12–505.1.</a> and the <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/section-1557/fs-disability/index.html">Affordable Care Act Section 1557</a> on Discrimination in Health Care. In fact, James Pharmacy was one of the first independent pharmacy in the Baltimore to establish this service, and consequently numerous blind and low vision Marylanders use this pharmacy and recommend it to others. James Pharmacy has been held out as a model pharmacy for accessibility and customer service as a result. It is very disappointing that James Pharmacy appears to be moving away from its customer-focused and inclusive business practices and instead blatantly violating the civil rights of its patients.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Your recent notification to patients that James Pharmacy will be charging customers $3.50 per ScripTalk label is an open announcement that you plan to violate all three of these civil rights laws by charging for accessibility accommodations. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We strongly urge you to immediately rescind this decision to avoid violating the law, which will result in patient complaints being filed with the Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights, the Maryland Board of Pharmacy, and/or any other applicable entities with jurisdiction. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you have questions or would like to meet with me to discuss our concerns and your plans to rectify this matter, please provide some available days and times for this week.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Regards,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Ronza Othman, </span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>President</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>443-426-4110<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pronouns: she, her, hers<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>