Relating to the provision of accessible prescription-related measures for persons who are blind, have a visual impairment, or other print disability

This bill relates to the provision of accessible prescription-related measures for persons who are blind, have a visual impairment, or other print disability. The bill requires the board of pharmacy (board) to adopt administrative rules on or before January 1, 2027, to ensure that if a person who is blind, has a visual impairment, or other print disability requests access to prescription drug labels, bag tags, and medical guides, a pharmacy provides access to such, or refers the person to a pharmacy within a reasonable distance that provides access to prescription drug labels, bag tags, and medical guides. The bill provides that accessibility measures shall be provided by a pharmacy at no additional cost to such person; and information required to be provided on prescription drug labels, bag tags, and medical guides shall be provided in a format that is fully accessible to such persons within a time frame comparable to a person who is not blind, does not have a visual impairment, or other print disability. The bill requires the board to publish, on or before April of each year, a list on the board’s internet site of pharmacies that provide accessibility measures. Under the bill, a health carrier shall pay an enhanced dispensing fee to pharmacies to reimburse the costs associated with the bill. “Health carrier” is defined in the bill. The bill applies to any pharmacy dispensing prescription drugs in the state except for an institutional pharmacy; a pharmacy participating in a prescription drug repository program under Code chapter 135M, if the drug being dispensed was donated under the program; a pharmacy in a jail, a state correctional institution, a federal correctional facility, or a juvenile detention home. The bill defines “institutional pharmacy”. Under the bill, the board is required to solicit input in developing the rules from persons who are blind, have a visual impairment, or other print disability. The rules shall comply with guidelines and recommendations from the United States government accountability office and current industry standards, and shall include a method for providing notice to the public that accessible prescription drug labels, bag tags, and medical guides are available. Under the bill, the board shall submit a report to the governor and the general assembly on or before January 1, 2028, that provides a summary on the progress on implementing rules, and recommendations and additional measures to improve accessibility.