Washington, DC (April 16, 2026) – With healthcare advocates heading to Capitol Hill next week, there’s never been a better time to reiterate the importance of the Patients’ Right to Know Their Medication Act (H.R. 5133).
Reintroduced by Representatives Cliff Bentz (R-OR) and Jared Golden (D-ME), this bipartisan bill does something straightforward. It requires drug manufacturers to include a standardized, FDA-approved printed information sheet with every prescription. One page. Clear instructions on dosing, side effects, and safety. Every time.
The FDA is currently considering moving Patient Medication Information (PMI) to digital-only formats. For millions of Americans, including older adults, rural families, and those without reliable broadband, that’s not progress. That’s a barrier. Printed medication information isn’t a relic of the past. For many patients, it’s the most reliable tool for managing their health safely at home. And with over 7,000 pharmacies closing since 2019, printed information is increasingly the last clear line of guidance patients have.
H.R. 5133 enables pharmacists to care for patients and ensure patients are informed. That means no added cost or pressure on local pharmacists, and consistent, standardized information for every patient, regardless of zip code or income level. The National Rural Health Association has praised the bill for ensuring rural residents have access to printed medication information, and Rep. Golden has called it a straightforward way to make prescriptions safer and treatment easier for families and pharmacists alike.
This isn’t a partisan issue. It’s a patient safety issue. Clear printed medication information reduces medication errors, supports caregivers managing complex regimens, and keeps people out of the emergency room. As advocates meet with members of Congress this week, the message is clear: the Patients’ Right to Know Their Medication Act is ready to move. Patients deserve no less.
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