Pursuant to House Bill 2147, passed during the 2023 General Assembly Session, the Board of Pharmacy convened a work group on September 28, 2023, to evaluate challenges and barriers to requiring or providing translated directions for the use of prescriptions, including the possibility of model directions and necessary changes within pharmacies to ensure patients are aware of the language services available at the pharmacy. Related laws and information from Nevada, Washington, California, Oregon, and New York, including references to certain federal laws, were provided in the agenda packet to aid the discussion.

While the work group fully appreciated the need for patients to understand proper administration and possible side effects of medications, it identified fiscal and operational challenges and barriers involving associated costs, model language, software limitations, labeling, accuracy and method of translation, identifying languages, patient access, signs, and liability protection. Additionally, the work group acknowledged that federal laws already require minimum standards in certain situations and that educating pharmacies may be beneficial in encouraging more pharmacies to provide translation services without creating additional mandates.

Workgroup Members

Dale St. Clair, PharmD
Board of Pharmacy, Chairman

Cheri Garvin, RPh
Board of Pharmacy, Member

Kris Ratliff, DPh
Board of Pharmacy, Member

Patricia Richards-Spruill, RPh
Board of Pharmacy, Member

Joanne Dial, PharmD
Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States

Lauren Linkenauger, PharmD
Virginia Association of Chain Drug Stores

Tana Kaefer, PharmD
Virginia Pharmacy Association

Cinthia Coffey, PharmD
Virginia Society of Health-System Pharmacists