ATLANTA (April 15, 2010) – Landmark legislation that will protect consumers and improve access to quality health care for all Georgians recently achieved final passage from the House and the Senate. House Bill 194 now awaits the governor’s signature.
Sen. Don Thomas, a practicing physician for more than 50 years and chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee commented, “I supported this legislation because it will ultimately allow patients to take a more active role in their health care. Georgian’s have a right to know exactly what medicine they receive from the pharmacy. This measure ensures they are entirely aware of any changes in their prescription.”
“This legislation will alert patients about changes to their medicines and empower patients to be their own health advocate,” said Rep. Fran Millar. “I introduced this legislation after I was contacted by a constituent in my district who was a victim of medication switching. Since then, I have heard from other patients across Georgia that have faced this issue. I strongly believe consumers have the right to know exactly what they are getting at the pharmacy counter.”
HB194, sponsored by Millar, requires the pharmacy to label the medicine bottle if the prescription is switched from a brand to a generic. This label is a critical safety measure that will alert patients if there has been any change to their prescription. This alert enables the patient to ask important health questions at the pharmacy counter like “have you checked with my doctor to make sure this medicine is appropriate for me?”
“Today is a victory for patients like me and I’m thankful to Representative Millar and Senator Thomas for championing this important patient protection issue,” said Claudia Woodruff, a teacher and patient in Fayetteville, GA, who told Millar of her personal experience with a medication switch. “A change to my seizure medicine was made without my consent, without my physician’s consent, and without any warning to me. As a result, I had three seizures within seven days after I had been seizure-free for several years. This change negatively affected my life in so many ways, and it left me feeling uneasy about when it might happen again.”
For additional information, also contact Lavin Gartland at 404-295-3369 or lavingartland@yahoo.com.
Sen. Don Thomas serves as chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee. He represents the 54th Senate District, which includes Murray and Whitfield counties and portions of Catoosa and Gordon counties. He may be reached by phone at 404-656-6436 or by e-mail at don.thomas@senate.ga.gov.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
April 15, 2010
For Information Contact:
Raegan Weber, Director
Katie Wright, Communications Associate
katie.wright@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028