There is not a more exciting time to be involved in politics than right now! One of the hottest topics being debated and analyzed by our society is healthcare and how we can improve the quality, accessibility and cost effectiveness of the system. Currently Senator Jack Hatch of the Iowa State Senate is working to solve some of the issues facing our healthcare by restructuring some aspects of our healthcare system here in Iowa. At the Iowa Pharmacy Association’s Legislative Day students and pharmacists from around the state had the opportunity to listen to and discuss with State Senators and Representatives. Being healthcare providers and working to shift our own profession’s image from that of the dispensing pharmacist to one more focusing on our therapeutic drug knowledge and patient care skills, the current changing tides of healthcare are extremely important to the profession. Through working to reform healthcare it gives pharmacists the opportunity to voice our understanding of the healthcare system and what pharmacy’s role should be in a collaborative healthcare team.
Drew Roberts, a P2 at Drake University, and I are working on a very exciting and progressive bill that was drafted by Senator Hatch that will reform healthcare in Iowa. There is a large section of the bill that deals with pharmacy; in particular how pharmacists can contribute to the healthcare system to control the dollars being spent on healthcare by managing patient’s disease states through screenings and medication reviews. The bill also has a section dealing with bringing greater transparency to the reimbursement process between pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies.
I encourage you to take a look at the bill; it will have a very profound impact on pharmacy in Iowa if passed. I will keep you updated on the status of the bill in future blog posts- stay tuned!
The bill is entitled SF48 (SF stands for Senate File). Section VII is the section relating to pharmacy. Please feel free to post opinions/comments here on the blog!
http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=billinfo&Service=Billbook&menu=false&hbill=SF48
By Steph Swain, APhA-ASP President 2008-2009
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