Bill HF2430

1.1          A bill for an act
1.2          relating to health care; requiring pharmacists to dispense a prescription using an
1.3          audible container label or braille container label for patients who are visually
1.4          impaired or blind;amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 151.212, by adding
1.5          a subdivision.
1.6          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7          Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 151.212, is amended by adding a subdivision
1.8          to read:
1.9                          Subd. 4.Accessible prescription drug container labels. (a) A pharmacy must inform
1.10       each patient for whom a prescription drug is dispensed that an accessible prescription drug
1.11       container label is available to any patient who identifies as a person who is blind, visually
1.12       impaired, or otherwise disabled, upon request of the patient or the patient's representative,
1.13       at no additional cost.
1.14       (b) If a patient requests an accessible container label, the pharmacy shall provide the
1.15       patient with an audible, large print, or braille prescription drug container label depending
1.16       on the need and preference of the patient.
1.17       (c) The accessible container label must:
1.18       (1) be affixed on the container;
1.19       (2) be available in a timely manner comparable to other patient wait time;
1.20       (3) last for at least the duration of the prescription;
1.21       (4) conform with the format-specific best practices established by the United States
1.22       Access Board;
2.1          (5) contain the information required under subdivisions 1 and 2; and
2.2          (6) be compatible with a prescription reader if a reader is provided.
2.3          (d) This subdivision does not apply to prescription drugs dispensed and administered
2.4          by an institutional pharmacy or a correctional institution.
2.5          (e) For purposes of this subdivision:
2.6          (1) "prescription reader" means  a device that is designed to audibly convey the
2.7          information contained on the label of a prescription drug container; and
2.8          (2) "institutional pharmacy" means a pharmacy that is part of or is operated in conjunction
2.9          with any of the following health care facilities: hospital, outpatient surgical center, nursing
2.10       facility, residential care facility, rehabilitation facility, hospice care program, home and
2.11       community-based services provider, residential facility for individuals with mental illness
2.12       or developmental disabilities, or any other similar health care facility.