[NFBMO] URGENT! action needed today

[mizzoufan1979 at gmail.com]

I testified  at a hearing that was held today on HB 812, our accessible
prescription drug bill, and we received a lukewarm reception. We need to
have every member let the committee know why this piece of legislation is so
very important. 

We are asking members to submit written testimony on this bill. Testimony is
open until 11:59 tonight, March 6.

Clearly state why this is important to you as an individual.

Here is the link to the hearing page be sure to select HB 812
https://house.mo.gov/AllHearings.aspx?nid=7517

Amongst the points that can be made:

It is an issue of safety to make sure that a person is taking the correct
drug and the correct number of times daily.

It is important that a pharmacy close to the user's home have accessible
prescriptions as blind, visually impaired, and elderly have extra
transportation costs.

Also, in the scheme of things the cost of any equipment for the pharmacy
is  relatively low as little as $1,000 for them. There is no cost to the
individual.

Finally, there will be no cost to the budget of the state of Missouri.

 

Below thanks to Mr. Wunder is the text of the bill.

Thank everyone who takes action.

Eugene Coulter

 

 

 

 

FIRST REGULAR SESSION 

HOUSE BILL NO. 812 

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE STEPHENS. 

198711.011   DANA RADEMAN MILLER, Chief Clerk 

AN ACT 

To amend chapter 338, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to
accessible prescription labels. 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows: 

Section A. Chapter 338, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section,
to be 

2 known as section 338.088, to read as follows: 

338.088. 1. The provisions of this section shall be known and may be cited
as the 

2 "Accessible Prescription Labels Act". 

   3   2. For purposes of this section, the term "prescription reader" means
a device 

4 that is designed to audibly convey the information contained on the label
of a 

5 prescription drug. 

   6   3. A pharmacy shall notify each person to whom a prescription drug is
dispensed 

7 that an accessible prescription label is available to the person upon
request at no 

8 additional cost. 

   9   4. If a person informs a pharmacy that the person identifies as a
person who is 

10 blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print-disabled, the pharmacy shall
provide to the 

11 person an accessible prescription label affixed to the bottle that: 

   12   (1) Is available to the person in a timely manner comparable to wait
times for 

   13   other patients and lasts for at least the duration of the
prescription; 

   14   (2) Is appropriate to the disability and preference of the person
making the 

15 request through use of audible, large print, or Braille labels; 

   16   (3) Conforms to the format-specific best practices established by
the 

17 Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board; and 

EXPLANATION - Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above
bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in
bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language. 

HB 812   2 

   18   (4) Contains all the label information required by state statute and
federal law, 

19 including cautions and warnings, and any information available to sighted
persons 

20 reading printed labels. 

   21   5. If a pharmacy provides a prescription reader to comply with the
provisions of 

22 this section, the pharmacy shall ensure that the prescription label is
compatible with the 

23 prescription reader. 

   24   6. The board of pharmacy shall promulgate regulations necessary to
implement 

   25   this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined
in section 536.010, that 

26 is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become
effective only if it 

27 complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and,
if applicable, 

   28   section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and
if any of the powers 

29 vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to
delay the 

30 effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held
unconstitutional, 

31 then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted
after August 

32 28, 2023, shall be invalid and void. 

.(

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