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Sponsors
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History
- Referred to health
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S7573
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to labeling and font size of prescription drugs
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill increases the font size on prescription labels to at least fourteen point print.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends the section 206 of the public health law by adding a new subdivision directing by rule and regulation criteria, pharmacies to provide prescription bottle labels in a font size of at least fourteen point print.
Section 2 provides that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such dates.
Justification
New York State ranks third in the nation with regard to its elderly population. Older adults in the 60-plus age group are significantly less likely to be able to read prescription drug labels than younger adults. This is a large problem because older adults take more prescription medications than younger adults, and as a result are more at risk from the ill effects associated with mistaken intake of prescribed medications associate with the illegible font of prescription labels.
The warnings on prescription drug labels are important to them, yet they're less likely to find these warnings if they are printed in a 12 or lower point font. With an increase in font sizes, older adults will be more aware of the frequency of when they should be taking the drugs, and what to avoid in comprehension with the prescribed medication.
Prior legislative history
None. This is a new bill.
Fiscal implications
Minimal.
Effective date
This shall take effect the on hundred and twentieth day after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.