[NFBMD] URGENT Action: Update on James Pharmacy Issue

Thu Oct 17 23:29:05 UTC 2024

Colleagues,

Here’s a quick update.  An investigatory body has decided to investigate the
complaints we have filed regarding James Pharmacy’s passing through the cost
of accessible prescription labels.  I can’t say more at this time in order
to preserve the integrity of the investigation.

This entity wants to speak with everyone who has been impacted.  Please
email me privately if you were such an individual so I can put you in touch
with them.

Thanks,

Ronza

Ronza Othman, President

National Federation of the Blind of Maryland

443-426-4110

Pronouns: she, her, hers

From: Maryland President <president at nfbmd.org> 
Sent: Saturday, September 28, 2024 1:54 PM
To: 'nfb-maryland at nfbnet.org' <nfb-maryland at nfbnet.org>; 'nfbmd at nfbnet.org'
<nfbmd at nfbnet.org>; 'greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org'
<greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org>; 'nfbmdtlc-chapter at nfbnet.org'
<nfbmdtlc-chapter at nfbnet.org>; 'central-md-chapter at nfbnet.org'
<central-md-chapter at nfbnet.org>; 'md-atlarge at nfbnet.org'
<md-atlarge at nfbnet.org>; 'md-sligo at nfbnet.org' <md-sligo at nfbnet.org>;
'nationalharbor at nfbnet.org' <nationalharbor at nfbnet.org>; 'mabm at nfbnet.org'
<mabm at nfbnet.org>; 'mdabs at nfbnet.org' <mdabs at nfbnet.org>;
'mdpobc at nfbnet.org' <mdpobc at nfbnet.org>; 'NFB of Maryland, Baltimore County
List' <md-baltimore-county at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Accessible Prescription Label Updates and List of Pharmacies in
Maryland Currently Providing Service

Friends,

This is an update on the accessible prescription label issues we’ve been
discussing.

First, James Pharmacy has not responded to our multiple letters or phone
calls.  We do not at this point expect them to respond.  Here are the
actions the NFB of Maryland has taken.

1.	We sent James Pharmacy a cease and desist letter both via email and
certified mail, which they received.
2.	We called and left multiple messages.
3.	We met with EnVision to raise our concerns, and Envision attempted
to contact them without success as well.
4.	We notified the Maryland Attorney General and the Maryland Board of
Pharmacy of James Pharmacy’s discriminatory practices.
5.	We have encouraged, and where needed, assisted blind individuals to
file complaints with the HHS Office of Civil Rights.  We believe this action
on the part of James Pharmacy violates the Americans with Disabilities Act,
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Section 1557 (the
anti-discrimination provisions) of the Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act, giving HHS Federal jurisdiction.  You may initiate an OCR
complaint by visiting:
https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/filing-a-complaint/index.html
6.	We filed an HHS OCR complaint on behalf of the National Federation
of the Blind of Maryland in this matter.
7.	We will share information about how to file complaints within
Maryland once the Maryland Attorney General’s Office advises who has
jurisdiction.

In other related news, we provided our comments to the Maryland Board of
Pharmacies regarding the Board’s proposed regulations to implement the
Accessible Prescription Label law that’ll go into effect on January 1, 2025.
We worked with other disability advocacy organizations in Maryland to ensure
that our feedback and requested changes were aligned with one another, with
NFBMD taking the lead.  We’ll keep you posted on those regulations as they
are finalized.

In the meantime, for those of you seeking to use a pharmacy other than James
Pharmacy, below is a list of all Maryland Pharmacies which offer ScripTalk
or some form of accessible prescription label.  

Company

Phone

Address

City

State

ZIP Code

ScripTalk

Braille

ScripView

Translation

Pharmacy Level

Walmart #1717

301-705-7040

11930 Acton Lane

Waldorf

MD

20601

x

National Chain

St Patrick's Pharmacy

301-632-1000

10 Saint Patricks Dr

Waldorf

MD

20603

x

			Delivery;Independent Pharmacy

Walmart #1981

301-737-0611

45485 Miramar Way

California

MD

20619

x

			National Chain

Walmart #1716

410-535-5552

150 Solomons Island Rd North

Prince Frederick

MD

20678

x

			National Chain

Giant Food Pharmacy #0310

301-809-3151

15520 Annapolis Road

Bowie

MD

20715

x

Walmart #1893

301-805-8853

3300 Crain Hwy

Bowie

MD

20716

x

			National Chain

Walmart #1985

301-604-0148

3549 Russett Green E

Laurel

MD

20724

x

			National Chain

Walmart #2799

301-877-4025

8745 Branch Avenue

Clinton

MD

20735

x

			National Chain

UMMC Pharmacy at Capital Region

301-618-2686

901 Harry S Truman Dr N

Largo

MD

20774

		x

x

Hospital Pharmacy;University Pharmacy

Giant Food Pharmacy #0198

301-983-4211

9812 Falls Rd

Potomac

MD

20854

x

Albright Pharmacy Services-Maryland

301-216-5216

333 Russell Ave.

Gaithersburg

MD

20877

x

			Long Term Care

Giant Food Pharmacy #0368

301-926-2044

842 Muddy Branch Road

Gaithersburg

MD

20878

x

Safeway Pharmacy #1620

301-670-1631

20211 Goshen Rd

Gaithersburg

MD

20879

x

			Mails in State;National Chain

Giant Food Pharmacy #0196

301-990-0627

20044 Goshen Road

Gaithersburg

MD

20879

x

Giant Food Pharmacy #0135

301-598-3208

3860 International Dr

Silver Spring

MD

20906

x

Wegmans Pharmacy #014

410-773-3945

122 Shawan Rd

Hunt Valley

MD

21030

x

			Regional Chain

Giant Food Pharmacy #0308

410-956-4150

13 Lee Airpark Dr

Edgewater

MD

21037

x

Walmart #5228

410-740-8554

6405 Dobbin Rd

Columbia

MD

21045

x

			National Chain

UMMC Pharmacy Services

410-328-6445

920 Elkridge Landing

Linthicum

MD

21090

		x

x

Hospital Pharmacy;University Pharmacy

Walmart #3804

443-576-3155

8730 Liberty Road

Randallstown

MD

21133

x

			National Chain

UMMC Pharmacy at Weinberg

410-328-5233

22 S Greene St

Baltimore

MD

21201

x

	x

x

Hospital Pharmacy;University Pharmacy

UMMC Pharmacy at Redwood

410-328-5243

11 S Paca St

Baltimore

MD

21201

		x

x

Hospital Pharmacy;University Pharmacy

UMMC Midtown Campus Pharmacy

410-856-3650

821 N Eutaw St,

Baltimore

MD

21201

		x

x

Hospital Pharmacy;University Pharmacy

UMMC Pharmacy at Baltimore Washington

410-328-2267

255 Hospital Dr

Glen Burnie

MD

21201

		x

x

Hospital Pharmacy;University Pharmacy

Sam's Club #6239

410-628-7264

15 Texas Station Court

Timonium

MD

21202

x

			National Chain

Safeway Pharmacy #1513

410-319-8620

4401 Harford Rd

Baltimore

MD

21214

x

			Regional Chain

AHF Pharmacy - Baltimore

410-246-4877

2510 Saint Paul St

Baltimore

MD

21218

x

			Delivery;National Chain;Spanish Option;Specialty
Pharmacy

Walmart #3481

410-335-1135

112 Carroll Island Rd

Baltimore

MD

21220

x

			National Chain

Walmart #2435

410-284-0126

2399 North Point Blvd

Dundalk

MD

21222

x

			National Chain

Walmart #3720

410-737-7712

3601 Washington Blvd

Arbutus

MD

21227

x

			National Chain

James Pharmacy

410-752-5810

1119 Light Street

Baltimore

MD

21230

x

			Delivery;Independent Pharmacy;Mails in State

Northern Pharmacy

4106310544

6701 Harford Rd

Baltimore

MD

21234

x

			Delivery;Independent Pharmacy

Walmart #2045

410-882-9943

8118 Perry Hills Rd

Nottingham

MD

21236

x

			National Chain

Walmart #3489

410-687-6832

6420 Petrie Way

Baltimore

MD

21237

x

			National Chain

Johns Hopkins Outpatient Pharmacy @ The Arcade

443-287-9200

1800 Orleans Street

Baltimore

MD

21287

x

		x

Delivery;Hospital Pharmacy;Mail Order

Walmart #2027

301-729-5088

12500 Country Club Mall Rd

Lavale

MD

21502

x

			National Chain

Walmart #1715

410-819-0507

8155 Elliott Rd

Easton

MD

21601

x

			National Chain

Walmart #2790

301-739-7597

10420 Walmart Drive

Hagerstown

MD

21742

x

			National Chain

Riverside Pharmacy

410-742-1188

540 Riverside Dr

Salisbury

MD

21801

x

			Independent Pharmacy

Walmart #2514

410-957-9610

2132 Old Snow Hill Rd

Pocomoke

MD

21851

x

			National Chain

Walmart #1860

410-398-1123

1000 E Pulaski Hwy

Elkton

MD

21921

x

			National Chain

Walmart #2853

301-392-9106

40 Drury Dr

LA Plata

MD

20646-4220

x

			National Chain

Walmart #5345

410-257-2913

10600 Towne Center Blvd

Dunkirk

MD

20754-2737

x

			National Chain

Walmart #2357

301-515-6703

20910 Frederick Rd

Germantown

MD

20876-4134

x

			National Chain

Sam's Club #6653

240-631-7716

610 N Frederick Ave

Gaithersburg

MD

20877-2527

x

			National Chain

Walmart #2577

410-628-6168

1 Frankel Way

Cockeysville

MD

21030-3220

x

			National Chain

Walmart #2412

410-418-9703

3200 North Ridge Rd

Ellicott City

MD

21043-3363

x

			National Chain

Walmart #2279

410-863-1285

6721 Chesapeake Center Dr

Glen Burnie

MD

21060-6572

x

			National Chain

Walmart #2850

410-374-0332

2320 Hanover Pike

Hampstead

MD

21074-1511

x

			National Chain

Wye Oak Pharmacy

410-536-0555

1935 Lansdowne Rd

Halethorpe

MD

21227-1707

x

			Delivery;Independent Pharmacy

Walmart #2248

410-719-0042

6205 Baltimore National Pike

Cantonsville

MD

21228-2908

x

			National Chain

Walmart #3843

410-479-0758

610 Legion Rd

Denton

MD

21629-2040

x

			National Chain

Walmart #2233

301-631-2171

7400 Guilford Dr

Frederick

MD

21702-5100

x

			National Chain

Walmart #2931

410-341-6208

409 N Fruitland Blvd

Salisbury

MD

21801-2701

x

			National Chain

Walmart #5450

410-287-3479

75 North East Plz

North East

MD

21901-3617

x

National Chain

All Rite Aid Locations via Central Fill

Ronza Othman, President

National Federation of the Blind of Maryland

443-426-4110

Pronouns: she, her, hers

From: Maryland President <president at nfbmd.org <mailto:president at nfbmd.org> >

Sent: Saturday, August 31, 2024 2:11 PM
To: 'nfb-maryland at nfbnet.org' <nfb-maryland at nfbnet.org
<mailto:nfb-maryland at nfbnet.org> >; 'nfbmd at nfbnet.org' <nfbmd at nfbnet.org
<mailto:nfbmd at nfbnet.org> >; 'greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org'
<greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org <mailto:greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org> >;
'nfbmdtlc-chapter at nfbnet.org' <nfbmdtlc-chapter at nfbnet.org
<mailto:nfbmdtlc-chapter at nfbnet.org> >; 'central-md-chapter at nfbnet.org'
<central-md-chapter at nfbnet.org <mailto:central-md-chapter at nfbnet.org> >;
'md-atlarge at nfbnet.org' <md-atlarge at nfbnet.org
<mailto:md-atlarge at nfbnet.org> >; 'md-sligo at nfbnet.org' <md-sligo at nfbnet.org
<mailto:md-sligo at nfbnet.org> >; 'nationalharbor at nfbnet.org'
<nationalharbor at nfbnet.org <mailto:nationalharbor at nfbnet.org> >;
'mabm at nfbnet.org' <mabm at nfbnet.org <mailto:mabm at nfbnet.org> >;
'mdabs at nfbnet.org' <mdabs at nfbnet.org <mailto:mdabs at nfbnet.org> >;
'mdpobc at nfbnet.org' <mdpobc at nfbnet.org <mailto:mdpobc at nfbnet.org> >; 'NFB of
Maryland, Baltimore County List' <md-baltimore-county at nfbnet.org
<mailto:md-baltimore-county at nfbnet.org> >
Subject: Message to James Pharmacy

Friends and Colleagues,

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.

Dear Santosh Dwarkar,

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.

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, Maryland law §12
<https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gho&section
=12-505.1&enactments=False&archived=False> –505.1. and the Affordable Care
Act Section 1557
<https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/section-1557/fs-disability
/index.html>  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.

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. 

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. 

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.

Regards,

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

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbmd_nfbnet.org/attachments/20241017/4f34e6e8/attachment.htm>