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Board opens rulemaking for accessible prescription labels, agrees to revise training documentation requirement
Summary
The board voted to initiate rulemaking to add a new section (proposed 1707.51) requiring pharmacies to adopt policies to offer accessible prescription drug labels; members asked staff to remove a separate sign‑off requirement and to fold training documentation into the policy description.
The California State Board of Pharmacy voted to initiate rulemaking to add a new regulation (proposed section 1707.51) requiring pharmacies to adopt policies and procedures that enable patients to receive prescription drug labels in accessible formats.
The draft regulation circulated to the board would have required pharmacies to create written policies that, among other items, describe available accessible label formats and require pharmacy personnel to sign a copy of the policies and procedures acknowledging receipt. During discussion at the June meeting multiple board members and public commenters said that a mandatory sign‑and‑file requirement for every staff member would impose an administrative burden and might be unnecessary if training and competency documentation were otherwise maintained. Members suggested folding the sign‑off concept into a training/documentation requirement rather than requiring an additional paper sign‑off step.
Board members proposed revised language for the training element: instead of an explicit separate sign requirement, policies should "describe and document the training provided to pharmacy personnel on best practices and pharmacy policies related to prescription label accessibility," permitting electronic recordkeeping and standard competency documentation. Following that discussion the board voted to initiate the rulemaking process consistent with board discussion, delegating the executive officer authority to refine language and proceed through required administrative review.
Public commenters praised the board’s policy‑based approach and urged incorporation of practical guidance on reconciling federal accessibility standards and state prescription‑label rules. Board members noted the statute references U.S. Access Board standards and the national CLAS standards as potential sources for best practices. The motion to open the rulemaking file passed by roll call.
Why it matters: the rulemaking aims to ensure patients with vision, reading, or other access needs can receive prescription information in usable formats while allowing pharmacies flexibility in how they implement training and documentation.
What’s next: staff will adjust proposed language per the board discussion (removing the stand‑alone sign‑off requirement and strengthening the training/documentation clause), submit the text for pre‑notice review, and initiate formal rulemaking.
