[NFBWATlk] Urgent! Pharmacy Commission could weaken accessible prescription rule - CVall tomorrow (Thursday)

[Marci Carpenter]

The Pharmacy Commission is meeting tomorrow (Thursday) and they are considering amending the accessible prescription labelling rule in a way that would make it much harder to get accessible prescription labels in the format that works for each customer.. 

The rule currently lists several formats and says that pharmacies must provide labels in the format customers need. These include braille, large print, audio and it mentions the reader and app now used by Envision America and others. Commissioners say they are concerned that this would not include future potential formats. If that’s what they are worried about they could simply add a phrase which refers to “other future potential technologies” but they are proposing amending the rule and eliminating the entire list of format options. They are also proposing to cut the number of languages available to non-English speakers.

They also claim that thew proposed amendments were worked out with all stakeholders at the table but neither the blind community nor the language advocates were ever invited to participate in their discussions.

The public hearing on this topic will begin at approximately 10 AM tomorrow. If you are available at that time I urge you to call in using one of the methods below and tell them not to change the rule and to postpone any decision until our community can be at the table.

Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86309299195
Or One tap mobile:
+12532158782,,86309299195# US (Tacoma)
+12532050468,,86309299195# US
Or Telephone:
Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current
location):
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 253 205 0468 US