WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Senators Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) introduced the bipartisan Prescription Information Modernization Act to allow drug manufacturers to distribute prescribing information electronically while preserving the option to receive paper copies.
Under current law, prescribing information—including dosing instructions, drug interactions, precautions for pregnant women, pediatric guidance, and other critical safety information—must be printed and included in paper form with every medication. The bill would allow physicians, pharmacists, and pharmacies to access this information digitally while continuing to provide paper copies to those who prefer them.
Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) said, “Doctors and pharmacists shouldn’t have to sort through stacks of paper to access information that’s already available digitally. My bill would eliminate waste, lower costs, and give healthcare providers faster, easier access to the prescribing information they rely on to keep their patients safe.”
Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) said, “Every unnecessary administrative burden in our healthcare system is time stolen from patients and their providers. This bipartisan bill cuts the red tape on an outdated process and makes sure providers have the information they need, right when they need it.”
Key Provisions of the Prescription Information Modernization Act:
- Allows drug manufacturers to provide prescribing information electronically to health care providers and pharmacies.
- Preserves the option for providers and pharmacies to receive paper prescribing information if they choose.
- Modernizes access to prescribing information while reducing unnecessary printing, packaging, and paper waste.
Background:
Prescribing information contains essential safety and usage instructions that physicians and pharmacists rely on to prescribe and dispense medications, including drug interactions, dosing recommendations, age- and sex-specific guidance, pregnancy precautions, pediatric instructions, and other clinical information. Under current law, this information must be distributed on paper, often requiring dozens or even hundreds of printed pages for each medication.
Many physicians and pharmacists already prefer accessing prescribing information electronically because it is easier to search, more readable, and more efficient. The Prescription Information Modernization Act updates federal law to reflect modern clinical practice by allowing electronic distribution while ensuring paper copies remain available for those who want them. The legislation is also expected to eliminate millions of pages of unnecessary paper waste each year.
The legislation is supported by the Alliance to Modernize Prescribing Information, the American Pharmacists Association, the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, the Healthcare Distribution Alliance, the Indiana Life Sciences Association, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, and dozens of other health care, patient advocacy, and life sciences organizations.
Full bill text can be found here.
