New Nevada law looks to help visually impaired pharmacy patients
CARSON CITY, Nev. — A bill that aims to protect blind and visually impaired people from taking the wrong medications has been signed into law in Nevada.
Senate Bill 131, sponsored by state Sen. Mo Denis, D-Las Vegas, requires retail community pharmacies that dispense drugs to notify patients that prescription readers are available and, upon request, provide prescription readers free of charge for at least the duration of the prescription.
The retail community pharmacy must ensure that the label or other device attached to the prescription drug container is capable of conveying to the person using the prescription reader all the information required per NRS 639.2801. These requirements do not apply if the drug is not dispensed in a container with an affixed label or other device pursuant to NRS 639.2801 or the drug is dispensed through the mail.
The law applies to retail community pharmacies only, and does not apply to pharmacies that dispense prescription medications to patients solely through the mail, a nonprofit pharmacy designated by the board pursuant to NRS 639.2676, an institutional pharmacy, a pharmacy in a correctional institution or a pharmacy operated by a governmental entity.
The law goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2018.