Press Release : PPLA
Washington, DC (March 04, 2024) – The Pharmaceutical Printed Literature Association (PPLA) applauds Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) for cosponsoring the bipartisan Patients’ Right to Know Their Medication Act (H.R. 1173), which would would standardize medication information, require drug manufacturers print it, and help ensure patients take their prescriptions correctly.
“Congresswoman Perez knows that improving and protecting medication information will keep patients and their families healthy,” said PPLA Board President Dave Joesten. “By supporting this bill, Congresswoman Perez stands by patients and pharmacies alike that would face significant burdens from any move away from printed patient medication information. We urge all members of Congress to follow Congresswoman Perez’s lead and support the Patients’ Right to Know Their Medication Act. Doing so will help guarantee that every American has access to clear, printed medication information that saves lives.”
Currently, there is no standard for medication information. Therefore, medication information typically attached to prescription medication, known as patient medication information (PMI), is often hard to understand, leading to confusion, mistakes, adverse drug events, and unnecessary healthcare costs. Ninety million adults misunderstand the medical details on drug labels with 50% of patients with chronic conditions experiencing medication non-adherence, which takes over 100,000 lives every year and costs upwards of $300 billion per year.
The Patients’ Right to Know Their Medication Act was introduced by Reps. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA), Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Jared Golden (D-ME), and Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD). In addition to Congresswoman Perez, it is cosponsored by Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), David Trone (D-MD), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Brad Schneider (D-IL), and Mary Sattler Peltola (D-AK).
The Pharmaceutical Printed Literature Association
Chartered in 2001, the PPLA serves as the voice for our members, advocating for patient safety and risk communication by fighting to keep information on paper and readily accessible for patients and caregivers. This information helps drive the patient involvement model of health care, helping patients get the maximum benefits from the powerful drugs they take while minimizing risk.
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