A new state law is expected to make prescription drug labels user-friendly and reduce medical errors, its backers believe.
Assembly Bill 269, which took effect this month, requires doctors — when asked by a patient — to include on the label the symptom or purpose for which the drug is being prescribed.
State Rep. Steve Wieckert (R-Appleton), the bill's author, believes it will reduce medical injuries and potentially save lives.
"It's an exciting thing that we can all use, especially seniors," said Wieckert. "Seniors take an average of 12 different prescriptions in Wisconsin, so they can get confused."
Wieckert said he hopes his bill will remind patients to ask their doctors for the clear labeling.
"They just have to give a little note to the doctor and just say, 'I'd like you to put on the label, in layman's terms, what is this medication for," he said. "A lot of people never thought to even ask. Sometimes when you make the rule, people are now aware that they can even ask."
A pharmacist can only print on a label what a doctor or healthcare provider includes on the prescription order. Patients, unfortunately, usually realize this at the pharmacy counter, Wieckert added.
"I've had some pharmacists tell me that they would issue three or four prescriptions for seniors who would come back and say, 'could you write on the labels what these are for,' but by law, they cannot do that," Wieckert said.
The Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups, AARP, the Wisconsin Nurses Association and the Wisconsin Patient Safety Institute were among the bill's backers.
It took Wieckert more than three years to get the bill passed. His original version required that doctors always ask patients if they want the purpose of the medication listed on the label. Doctors objected, arguing it would create another mandate that would interfere with the doctor-patient relationship.
Some doctors, though, remain dissatisfied with the new bill.
"I have a problem with micromanagement legislation," said Dr. John Barkmeier, a family practice and geriatric medicine physician with ThedaCare Physicians – Menasha. "There is no question that medication safety is an issue."
But it has more to do with adverse drug interactions when people take multiple medications, he said.
"I don't see any evidence that this is the solution that will make the biggest difference. Other interventions have proven to be more effective and that is where we are putting our energy."
Wieckert, however, believes the bill will also make it easier for seniors to switch to generic drugs, which could save them money.
"We found that there is a great reluctance among seniors to go from some of the brand-name drugs to generics," he said. "And one of the reasons is the pills are shaped differently and they worry they are going to lose track. Seniors remember to take the small blue pill for this and the square pill for that."
But if the labels say, "take for cholesterol, migraine headaches or blood pressure," he added, they can take their prescriptions with confidence.
Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs
# posted by Network @ 1:20 PM
