HB 24-1115

House Bill 24-1115, known as the Prescription Drug Label Accessibility Act, requires pharmacies in Colorado to provide prescription drug label information in accessible formats for individuals who have difficulty reading standard labels. Starting July 1, 2025, pharmacies must offer options like electronic labels that can be read by a device, free prescription drug readers, braille or large print labels, or other methods recommended by the U.S. Access Board. The bill also establishes a grant program to help pharmacies cover costs related to providing these accessible formats. This law was signed into effect on August 7, 2024, meaning it is now active and pharmacies must start preparing to comply with its requirements.

Official Summary

The act requires a pharmacy, on and after July 1, 2025, to provide an individual who has difficulty seeing or reading standard printed labels on prescription drug containers with access to the prescription drug label information by: Including an electronic label affixed to the prescription drug container that transmits the prescription drug's label information, directions, and written instructions to an individual's external accessible device, including an individual's compatible prescription drug reader; Providing a prescription drug reader at no cost to the individual; Providing a prescription drug label in braille or large print; or Providing the individual with a method recommended by the United States access board. A pharmacy has 28 days to provide such access if a patient requests a method of access the pharmacy has not yet been asked by any other patient to provide. A pharmacy must make reasonable efforts to inform the public that prescription drug label information is available in accessible formats. The act creates the prescription accessibility grant program in the department of public health and environment to provide hardship grants to pharmacies for the purchase of equipment used to create accessible prescription labels. APPROVED by Governor June 3, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Votes