Adverse drug events (ADEs) result in 275,000 American deaths annually, equivalent to four crashing 737s daily. Outdated reporting systems mean many ADEs go unrecorded. Most ADEs happen when medications are taken correctly, impacting women and non-White patients more. Precision medicine, like pharmacogenomics (PGx) testing, can reduce avoidable harm. However, hurdles like inconsistent insurance coverage and lack of education hinder widespread adoption. Biomarker legislation in some states aims to address these barriers. Advocacy efforts for legislation like the Right Drug Dose Now Act of 2024 and the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act can improve drug safety. It’s time to prioritize PGx testing as a public health priority to reduce medication harm significantly.
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First Do No Harm: Support Legislative Efforts to Combat the Adverse Drug Event Epidemic
