NY A11627

Requires prescribers to indicate on prescription forms and electronic prescriptions whether a patient is limited English proficient (LEP) and, if so, specify the patient's preferred language.

Mandates chain pharmacies (four or more establishments under same name/ownership/franchise) provide free competent oral interpretation services to LEP individuals for medication counseling and prescription information in their primary language.

Requires chain pharmacies to post conspicuous notices at prescription counters in the top seven languages spoken by LEP individuals in New York, informing patients of free language assistance services.

Directs the State Board of Pharmacy to develop standardized, patient-centered prescription drug labels within 270 days considering medical literacy, font sizes, directions for use, and needs of senior citizens, followed by chain pharmacies providing free translated labels to LEP individuals speaking pharmacy primary languages.

Effective one year after enactment, with commissioners of health and education and the State Board of Pharmacy authorized to take immediate actions for implementation.