This legislation would require FDA-approved, standardized patient medication information be distributed in the same manner as a prescribing information insert. It would be provided to patients for prescription drugs distributed and dispensed for outpatient use. By providing standardized patient medication information attached to a prescription, patients will better understand the critical information necessary to avoid preventable adverse drug events thereby reducing the risk of patient suffering while potentially saving the health care system millions of dollars.
The Honorable Jared Golden
Maine 2nd Congressional District
1223 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Jared Golden
Maine 2nd Congressional District
1223 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Buddy Carter
Georgia 1st Congressional District
2432 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congressmen Golden and Carter,
On behalf of the 2 million members of AMAC – the Association of Mature American Citizens, I write to express our support for the Patients’ Right to Know Their Medication Act. AMAC strongly believes in the right of all Americans to fully understand their prescription medications and as such, we are happy to support this bill.
Seniors make up about 12% of the U.S. population but represent about 34% of all prescriptions dispensed in the country; many of these seniors take multiple medications for complex health conditions.1 AMAC believes that seniors should be empowered to take control of their health, make well-reasoned medical decisions, and have access to critical medication information. Unfortunately, we also know that the patient medication information that currently accompanies most prescription drugs is often inconsistent and ineffective in communicating critical information that seniors need in order to take control of their health. When seniors can’t rely on this information, we see problematic health outcomes like adverse drug events and hospitalizations, not to mention avoidable costs to the health care system at large.
At AMAC, we believe that policymakers must work to standardize the prescription information provided to all patients, including America’s seniors. For this reason, AMAC supports the Patients’ Right to Know Their Medication Act. This commonsense bill would make sure that every prescription includes an easily understandable, FDA approved printout of patient medication information. Given FDA has standardized the presentation of consumer-facing information on items ranging from food and beverages to over the counter medications, it only makes sense that printed information not only be included with prescription medication, but that it be presented in a way that is consistent and reliable, regardless of where the outpatient prescription is dispensed.
On behalf of mature Americans from across the country, thank you for this opportunity to share our thoughts on the Patients’ Right to Know Their Medication Act. AMAC and our members support any opportunity to better facilitate the communication of critical medication information to consumers. We look forward to working with you and your staff on this important initiative.
Sincerely,
Bob Carlstrom
President, AMAC Action
This just drives up cost. The information that’s pertinent should be your doctors responsibility to inform you. Most information inserts are far to complex for most laymen to understand. I know I tried to provide educational information for years. Many patients , mainly seniors, are unnecessarily frightened thinking of ALL the possible side effects.
Just like many current prospective changes are being suggested by people who have absolutely no idea of the real world. They mainly hear from lobbyist that have their own reasons for the information they provide. Leave medicine to the experts. Not to those that mainly see dollars. If you want real change.