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background:white'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2 face=Symbol><span
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</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=1 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:
6.0pt;margin-left:0in;background:white'><font size=1 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>July 10, 2013<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:
6.0pt;margin-left:0in;background:white'><font size=1 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>New guidance is now available from
the U.S. Access Board on how to make prescription drug container labels
accessible to people with vision impairments or who are elderly. The important
information labeling prescription medications, including dosage and other
instructions, side effects, and expiration dates, is often inaccessible to
those unable to read print or small type.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:
6.0pt;margin-left:0in;background:white'><font size=1 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Developed by a stakeholder working
group formed by the Board, the advisory guidance covers different solutions for
making label information accessible, including Braille, large print, and
auditory technologies such as "talking bottles" and radio frequency
identification tags. Some access alternatives can be delivered digitally
through smart phones and personal computers. In preparing its recommendations,
the Working Group on Accessible Prescription Drug Container Labels assessed
these alternatives along with technical, financial, or logistical
considerations. This 18-member panel, which was comprised of representatives
from advocacy organizations and industry, also prepared best practices to
follow in providing access, including guidance specific to each access format.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:
6.0pt;margin-left:0in;background:white'><font size=1 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>“Many people who cannot read
print or fine type, whether it's due to a disability or is age-related, cannot
safely and independently take their own medications,” notes Access Board
Chair Karen L. Braitmayer, FAIA. “The information issued by the Board's
working group provides much-needed guidance to pharmacists on steps they can
take voluntarily to ensure that label information is independently and reliably
accessible to all of their customers.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:
6.0pt;margin-left:0in;background:white'><font size=1 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>The released recommendations are
contained in a <a
href="http://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/health-care/about-prescription-drug-container-labels/working-group-recommendations">report</a>,
“Best Practices for Making Prescription Drug Container Label Information
Accessible to Persons Who are Blind or Visually-Impaired or Who are
Elderly,” which is available on the Board's website. This guidance is
advisory only and not mandatory. Pharmacies are not obligated to follow the
best practice recommendations. The recommendations were developed under the
"Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act," which
President Obama signed into law last July. The law called upon the Board to
form a working group to develop the recommendations within one year.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:
6.0pt;margin-left:0in;background:white'><font size=1 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>The National Council on Disability
will undertake an awareness campaign in cooperation with the working group to
inform the public of the best practices, as directed by the Act. In addition,
the Comptroller General will initiate a review in 18 months to assess the
extent to which pharmacies are following the best practices and to what degree
barriers to prescription drug container labels remain.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:
6.0pt;margin-left:0in;background:white'><font size=1 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>For further information, visit the
Board's <a
href="http://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/health-care/about-prescription-drug-container-labels">website</a>
or contact Marsha Mazz, Director of the Board's Office of Technical and
Information Services, at (202) 272-0020, (202) 272-0076 (TTY), or <MailScannerScript9895 script type="text/javascript">
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</MailScannerScript9895></span>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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w:st="on"><b><font size=2 color="#1d4579" face="Lucida Sans"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans";color:#1D4579;font-weight:
bold'>United States</span></font></b></st1:place></st1:country-region><b><font
size=2 color="#1d4579" face="Lucida Sans"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Lucida Sans";color:#1D4579;font-weight:bold'> Access Board<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
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<ul type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;background:#F1F1F1'><st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address
w:st="on"><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>1331 F Street NW, Suite 1000</span></font></st1:address></st1:Street><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;background:#F1F1F1'><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on"><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Washington</span></font></st1:City><font size=1
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>, <st1:State
w:st="on">DC</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">20004-1111</st1:PostalCode></span></font></st1:place><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
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<ul type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l4 level1 lfo3;background:#F1F1F1'><font size=1 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Voice: (202) 272-0080 or (800)
872-2253<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l4 level1 lfo3;background:#F1F1F1'><font size=1 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>TTY: (202) 272-0082 or (800)
993-2822<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l4 level1 lfo3;background:#F1F1F1'><font size=1 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Fax: (202) 272-0081<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
</ul>
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12.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Yasmin Reyazuddin <br>
Aging & Disability Services <br>
Montgomery County Government <br>
Department of Health & Human Services <br>
401 Hungerford Drive (3rd floor) <br>
Rockville MD 20850 <br>
240-777-0311 (MC311) <br>
240-777-1556 (personal) <br>
240-777-1495 (fax) <br>
office hours 8:30 am 5:00 pm <br>
Languages English, Hindi, Urdu, Braille <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:black'>This message may contain protected health
information or other information that is confidential or privileged. If you are
not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by return mail and
destroy any copies of this material. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:black'>Thank you.</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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