[MDABS] URGENT Action Alert - Prescription Label Regulation Comments - Due December 10, 2024

[Maryland President]

Friends,

This is an urgent action alert with a short timeline.  The Maryland Board of
Pharmacists has posted its draft regulations for Accessible Prescription
Labels, Guides, and Bag Tags.  We are asking you to send in comments by the
December 10, 2024 deadline.

 

The proposed regulation is missing some key pieces that will hinder its
implementation.  We want to highlight those in our comments to the Board.
These include:

*	Clear language that dictates that the patient's choice of accessible
format will be provided so that pharmacies can't default to only one
accessible method;
*	Requiring the Board to hold pharmacies accountable - instead of
permitting the Board to do so as the language is currently written
*	Clearly defining penalties for violations
*	Requiring the Board to collect and pharmacies to provide data on the
use of accessible prescription labels, including type, frequency, and
violations;
*	Publication of that data and information.

 

 

Please send your comments to the below individual.

 

Deena Speights-Napata, M.A.

Executive Director

Maryland Board of Pharmacy

deena.speights-napata at maryland.gov
<mailto:deena.speights-napata at maryland.gov> 

 

 

You may want to say something like:

Dear Board of Pharmacy,

I am a blind resident of the State of Maryland, and I urge you to adopt the
regulations that will allow me to obtain my prescription information in an
accessible format.  However, I urge you to make it clear in the regulation
that a pharmacy must provide me with the accessible format I choose, not one
it decides it prefers for all patients.  This is because some of us can read
large print, and some cannot.  Some of us need an audio version, but some of
us are deaf-blind or otherwise use a different method.  Some of us read
Braille, and some cannot.  In addition, I urge you to strengthen the
enforcement and accountability provisions of the regulation, because the way
the draft regulation is written now, there aren't clear consequences or data
reporting when this law and my rights are violated.  

 

[give a personal example of your experience or why this is important to
you.]

 

Thank you for ensuring that the blind, low vision, and print disabled in
Maryland can safely and independently administer our own medication.

 

 

 

 

Reach out to me with questions.

 

Thanks,

Ronza

              

 

Ronza Othman, President

National Federation of the Blind of Maryland

443-426-4110

Pronouns: she, her, hers

 

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

 

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