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Politics & Government

New Law Requires Larger Print on Prescription Drug Labels

Bill by Bay Area Legislator Ellen Corbett requires prescription drug labels to use a 12-point font to prevent unneeded patient errors.

Submitted by the California State Senate

On Tuesday, Aug. 13 the Assembly Business, Professions and Consumer Protection Committee approved legislation authored by Senate Majority Leader Ellen M. Corbett (D-East Bay) that requires pharmacists to print specific items on a prescription label in at least a 12-point font. 

Following the governor’s signature of SB 472 in 2007 by Senator Corbett, the Board of Pharmacy (Board) was required to standardize the prescription drug label to make it more patient-centered.  The Board consequently conducted a survey in 2009, which found that 60 percent of participants that responded believed that larger or bolder print would make prescription labels easier to read.

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“SB 205 is a patient-centered bill that helps keep patients safe and prevents needless medication use errors by simply requiring pharmacists to print specific items on prescription labels in at least 12 point font. Those items include patient’s name, drug’s name and strength, directions for use and the condition for which the drug was prescribed,” Corbett said. “Patients should not have to struggle to read their prescriptions since that critical information can clearly protect patients and save their lives,” she added.

California’s population of residents 60 and older will increase by more than 110 percent from 1990 to 2020, according to the California Department on Aging.  

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