[PACapitalChapter] Advocate for Accessible Prescription Labels

Carlton Anne Cook Walker attorneywalker at gmail.com
Sun Apr 21 22:50:58 UTC 2019


*Advocate for Accessible Prescription Labels*

*Support HB 125 in Pennsylvania*

There is new pending legislation in Pennsylvania, HB 125, which would
require pharmacies to provide accessible prescription labels to those who
are blind or low vision or otherwise print impaired.  The sponsor of the
bill, Representative Dan L. Miller, would like to receive your feedback and
testimony regarding this important disability legislation.

Representative Dan L. Miller

217 Irvis Office Building

PO Box 202042

Harrisburg PA 17120-2042

Or email his staff, Stephanie Hardman, at shardman at pa.house.net

And of course, let your own local representatives know how important this
bill is as well! I have included some information below that can help you
to write effective testimony to support this bill.  These ideas address a
variety of perspectives and the most common counter-arguments that
pharmacies give for not providing this service.

Warm regards,



Sharla Glass

Public Policy and Community Outreach

En-Vision America, Inc.

941-702-6602

*sglass at envisionamerica.com <sglass at envisionamerica.com>*

*Remember your testimony will be available to the public, so do not include
personal information that you want kept private.  Be sure to include HB 125
in the subject line.  Here are some ideas on writing your testimony. *



Give an example of one or two of the following that best suit your
situation:



   1. *Your experience managing multiple meds without vision.*  Errors that
   have been made (yours or the pharmacy’s). How it made you feel.
   “Solutions” that have not worked. So and so wants to help, but this
   solution is just not cutting it. Or I appreciate their willingness to try,
   but we need something solid to enforce this.
   2. *Your experience requesting accessible prescription labels* per ADA
   and being denied.  Explain what the reasoning for the denial.  If your
   pharmacist said they would like to provide the service but corporate
   decisions prevented them, be sure to state that as well.
   3. *Your experience of being referred to another pharmacy* a distance
   away or a mail order option and the struggles of utilizing that option to
   demonstrate the need for service at the window.  (no ride, controlled
   substances cannot be mailed, meds arriving in an untimely manner, does not
   accept insurance).
   4. *Your experience being given “at the window” counseling or an
   alternative format* (Braille, large print) but not being able to access
   the information once home (you’re not a Braille reader, the font wasn’t big
   enough, etc) or the pharmacist not being available for questions after
   hours when you needed info about meds that sighted could read on the label.
   5. *An example of the cost of medication errors* personally or
   financially for you and/or your pharmacist. How did it make you and your
   family feel?  How did the pharmacist feel? What other ramifications were
   there?
   6. *Your Success Story!!!*  A personal experience that demonstrates how
   accessible prescription labels benefits both you and your pharmacist.
   Demonstrating how accessible prescription labels are successful is critical.





Carlton Anne Cook Walker
Attorney at Law
BEAR--Blindness Education and Advocacy Resources
Teacher of Students with Blindness/Low Vision
President, National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC)
101 Kelly Drive
Carlisle, PA   17015
Voice: 717-658-9894
Twitter: braillemom


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