[NFBV-Announce] HB 516, The Accessible Prescription Labeling Act, passes the General Assembly: Please contact Governor Younkin and ask him to sign it!

[jackibruce6 at gmail.com]

From: Bonnie O'Day, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia Legislative
Director

bonnoday at gmail.com <mailto:bonnoday at gmail.com>  

 

 

Congratulations! The Accessible prescription labeling bill passed the Senate
on March 4 with a vote of 39 to zero and passed the House on March 5 with a
vote of 73 to 26! Thanks to all of you who participated in the Richmond
Seminar, contacted General Assembly members, wrote comments on the
legislation, or supported it in any other ways. Again, our collective action
will have a profound impact on the health and safety of blind and low vision
people across Virginia. We wish to extend a special thank you to Stewart
Prost, Shannon Britt, and Bernard Werwie for rising very early to testify at
an 8:30 hearing in Richmond! The personal testimony they offered was
instrumental in obtaining passage of the bill. The bill is now on Governor
Youngkin's desk, awaiting his signature. 

Please contact Governor Youngkin's office and encourage him to sign this
important piece of legislation.  You may call (804) 786-2211 or email him at
glenn.youngkin at governor.virginia.gov
<mailto:glenn.youngkin at governor.virginia.gov> . Briefly explain why the bill
is important to you and ask Governor Youngkin to sign it. 

What does the bill provide?

The bill that passed the General Assembly provides that:

*	The pharmacist must notify each person requesting a prescription who
is blind, low vision, or otherwise print disabled that an accessible
prescription label or alternate accommodation is available to them upon
request at no additional cost,
*	The accessible prescription label must be affixed to the bottle, is
provided in a large print or audible format based upon the patient's
request, and is available in a timely manner comparable to other patient
wait times, 
*	The accessible label may be provided by the pharmacy or through a
mail order process,
*	As an alternative, if agreed to by the pharmacist and the patient,
the pharmacist may provide counseling or other accommodation and dispense
the prescription in packaging with sufficient labeling and other
information.

The Board of Pharmacy will adopt regulations, with input from organizations
of blind people, by December 31, 2024.  We will be calling on you to ensure
that strong and effective regulations implementing this new law are adopted.


 

Thanks,

Bonnie

 

 

Peace,

 

Jacki Bruce

 

Corresponding Secretary NFBV

mailto:jackibruce6 at gmail.com

tel:(757)291-1789

 

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STRONGER TOGETHER!

 

 

 

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