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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Friends,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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:<o:p></o:p></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>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;<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Requiring the Board to hold pharmacies accountable – instead of permitting the Board to do so as the language is currently written<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Clearly defining penalties for violations<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Requiring the Board to collect and pharmacies to provide data on the use of accessible prescription labels, including type, frequency, and violations;<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Publication of that data and information.<o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please send your comments to the below individual.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center;background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Deena Speights-Napata, M.A.</span></strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px'><strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Executive Director</span></strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px'><strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Maryland Board of Pharmacy</span></strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="mailto:deena.speights-napata@maryland.gov">deena.speights-napata@maryland.gov</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You may want to say something like:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Board of Pharmacy,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>[give a personal example of your experience or why this is important to you.]<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you for ensuring that the blind, low vision, and print disabled in Maryland can safely and independently administer our own medication.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Reach out to me with questions.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ronza<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>