Bill Text: MN HF2944 | 2011-2012 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Prescription drug labeling best practices established.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-03-20 - Introduction and first reading, referred to Health and Human Services Reform [HF2944 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2011-HF2944-Introduced.html
1.2relating to prescription drug labeling; establishing best practices;proposing
1.3coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 145.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. [145.58] PRESCRIPTION DRUG LABELING.
1.6 Subdivision 1. Short title. This section may be cited as the Prescription Drug
1.7Promotion Act of 2012.
1.8 Subd. 2. Definitions. For purposes of this section:
1.9(a) "Pharmacy" has the meaning given in section 151.01, subdivision 2, and also
1.10includes a pharmacy that receives prescriptions and dispenses prescriptions through an
1.11Internet Web site.
1.12(b) "Prescription drug" means a drug subject to section 503(b)(1) of the Federal
1.13Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
1.14 Subd. 3. Establishment of working group; duties. (a) The commissioner of
1.15health shall establish a working group to develop and promulgate guidance constituting
1.16best practices on access to prescription drug labeling for persons who are blind and
1.17visually impaired.
1.18(b) The commissioner shall appoint the members of the working group. Members
1.19shall include representatives of national or Minnesota affiliate organizations representing
1.20blind or visually impaired individuals, national or Minnesota organizations representing
1.21the elderly, and industry groups, including pharmacists, who would be impacted by the
1.22development of best practices. Representation within the working group shall be divided
1.23equally between consumer and industry advocates.
2.1(c) No later than August 1, 2013, the working group shall establish guidance for
2.2best practices for pharmacies to ensure that blind and visually impaired individuals
2.3have safe, consistent, reliable, and independent access to the information in the labeling
2.4of prescription drugs. The commissioner shall make the guidance available on the
2.5Department of Health Web site.
2.6(d) In developing and establishing guidance for best practices, the working group
2.7shall consider alternative methods of labeling prescriptions, including:
2.8(1) braille;
2.9(2) auditory means, such as:
2.10(i) talking bottles that provide audible label information; and
2.11(ii) digital voice recorders attached to the prescription drug container; and
2.12(3) enhanced visual means, such as:
2.13(i) large font labels or large font labels that are affixed or matched to a prescription
2.14drug container;
2.15(ii) high contrast printing; and
2.16(iii) sans serif font.
2.17(e) In developing and establishing guidance, the working group shall also consider
2.18whether there are technical, financial, personnel, or other factors unique to pharmacies
2.19with 20 or fewer retail locations that may fundamentally impact the ability of such
2.20pharmacies to implement best practices.
2.21(f) The working group shall also consider any other factors the working group
2.22deems appropriate.
2.23EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
1.3coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 145.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. [145.58] PRESCRIPTION DRUG LABELING.
1.6 Subdivision 1. Short title. This section may be cited as the Prescription Drug
1.7Promotion Act of 2012.
1.8 Subd. 2. Definitions. For purposes of this section:
1.9(a) "Pharmacy" has the meaning given in section 151.01, subdivision 2, and also
1.10includes a pharmacy that receives prescriptions and dispenses prescriptions through an
1.11Internet Web site.
1.12(b) "Prescription drug" means a drug subject to section 503(b)(1) of the Federal
1.13Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
1.14 Subd. 3. Establishment of working group; duties. (a) The commissioner of
1.15health shall establish a working group to develop and promulgate guidance constituting
1.16best practices on access to prescription drug labeling for persons who are blind and
1.17visually impaired.
1.18(b) The commissioner shall appoint the members of the working group. Members
1.19shall include representatives of national or Minnesota affiliate organizations representing
1.20blind or visually impaired individuals, national or Minnesota organizations representing
1.21the elderly, and industry groups, including pharmacists, who would be impacted by the
1.22development of best practices. Representation within the working group shall be divided
1.23equally between consumer and industry advocates.
2.1(c) No later than August 1, 2013, the working group shall establish guidance for
2.2best practices for pharmacies to ensure that blind and visually impaired individuals
2.3have safe, consistent, reliable, and independent access to the information in the labeling
2.4of prescription drugs. The commissioner shall make the guidance available on the
2.5Department of Health Web site.
2.6(d) In developing and establishing guidance for best practices, the working group
2.7shall consider alternative methods of labeling prescriptions, including:
2.8(1) braille;
2.9(2) auditory means, such as:
2.10(i) talking bottles that provide audible label information; and
2.11(ii) digital voice recorders attached to the prescription drug container; and
2.12(3) enhanced visual means, such as:
2.13(i) large font labels or large font labels that are affixed or matched to a prescription
2.14drug container;
2.15(ii) high contrast printing; and
2.16(iii) sans serif font.
2.17(e) In developing and establishing guidance, the working group shall also consider
2.18whether there are technical, financial, personnel, or other factors unique to pharmacies
2.19with 20 or fewer retail locations that may fundamentally impact the ability of such
2.20pharmacies to implement best practices.
2.21(f) The working group shall also consider any other factors the working group
2.22deems appropriate.
2.23EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
