Senate HELP Committee Approves Bill To Address Pharmacist Shortage

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Sept. 25 by voice vote approved a bill (S 1806) that would provide financial assistance to help cover the cost of pharmacy students' school loans to help reduce the nation's pharmacist shortage, National Journal News Service reports. Under the legislation, sponsored by Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) and Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), pharmacy students would have to work in an underserved area for two years or teach at a pharmacy school to receive assistance. Committee Chair Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) said that HHS and General Accounting Office studies "have concluded that our country is experiencing a serious shortage of qualified pharmacists" as a result of an increased number of elderly patients, expanded insurance coverage for prescription drugs and a rise in the number of 24-hour pharmacies (Rich, National Journal News Service, 9/25).