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 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 1 of each year, a list on the board’s internet site of pharmacies that provide accessibility measures. 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.