HF 2456 (LSB 5697HV (1) 90)

HOUSE FILE 2456

BY  COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE

(SUCCESSOR TO HF 2252)

(COMPANION TO SF 2022 BY ZAUN)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to ensuring the provision of accessible prescription-related measures for persons who are blind, have a visual impairment, or otherwise have print disabilities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  155A.49  Accessible prescription-related measures for persons who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise have print disabilities —— rules.
   1.  The board shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to ensure that no later than October 31, 2024, a person who is blind, has a visual impairment, or otherwise has a print disability has appropriate access to prescription drug labels, bag tags, and medical guides. The accessibility measures shall meet all of the following requirements:
   a.  Be provided at no additional cost to such persons.
   b.  Provide information in a format that is fully accessible to a person who is blind, has a visual impairment, or otherwise has a print disability.
   c.  Provide information to a person who is blind, has a visual impairment, or otherwise has a print disability within a time frame comparable to the time frame within which the information is provided to a person who is not blind, does not have a visual impairment, or does not otherwise have a print disability.
   2.  In adopting rules under this section, the board shall solicit input from persons who are blind, have a visual impairment, or otherwise have a print disability.
   3.  The rules adopted under this section shall meet all of the following requirements:
   a.  Comply with the guidelines and recommendations in the United States government accountability office report published in December 2016, entitled “Prescription Drug Labels: Actions Needed to Increase Awareness of Best Practices for Accessible Labels for Individuals Who are Blind or Visually Impaired”.
   b.  Include a method for providing notice to the public that accessible prescription drug labels, bag tags, and medical guides are available, including notice regarding the availability of the prescription drug labels, bag tags, and medical guides in audio format.
   4.  The board shall submit a report to the governor and the general assembly by January 1, 2025, which includes information regarding progress in the implementation of the rules, recommendations regarding additional measures for improving accessibility, and projected costs of implementing enhanced dispensing fees to defray the costs of providing accessible prescription drug labels, bag tags, and medical guides to persons who are blind, have a visual impairment, or otherwise have a print disability.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill requires the board of pharmacy to adopt administrative rules no later than October 31, 2024, to ensure that a person who is blind, has a visual impairment, or otherwise has a print disability has appropriate access to prescription drug labels, bag tags, and medical guides. The accessibility measures shall be provided at no additional cost to such person, provide information in a format that is fully accessible to a person who is blind, has a visual impairment, or otherwise has a print disability, and provide information to a person who is blind, has a visual impairment, or otherwise has a print disability within a time frame comparable to the time frame within which the information is provided to a person who is not blind, does not have a visual impairment, or otherwise does not have a print disability.
   The board is required to solicit input in developing the rules from persons who are blind, have a visual impairment, or otherwise have a print disability. The rules shall comply with the guidelines and recommendations in the United States government accountability office report published in December 2016, entitled “Prescription Drug Labels: Actions Needed to Increase Awareness of Best Practices for Accessible Labels for Individuals Who are Blind or Visually Impaired”, and shall include a method for providing notice to the public that accessible prescription drug labels, bag tags, and medical guides are available.
   The board shall submit a report to the governor and the general assembly by January 1, 2025, which includes information regarding progress in the implementation of the rules, recommendations regarding additional measures for improving accessibility, and projected costs of implementing enhanced dispensing fees to defray the costs of providing accessible prescription drug labels, bag tags, and medical guides to persons who are blind, have a visual impairment, or otherwise have a print disability.