WV Pharmacists Association

WVPA Update

February 3, 2010

The Senate Committee on Health and Human Resources approved Senate Bill 8 this afternoon adding "pharmacists" and "pharmacies" to the definition of "health care provider" as contained in the Medical Professional Liability Act.

Introduced by Senators Kessler, Palumbo, Minard, Foster, Jenkins, Oliverio and D. Facemire this proposed legislation puts pharmacists and pharmacies on the same level as other practitioners, such as physicians, dentists and nurses, as well as other health care facilities, such as hospitals and clinics.

Senate Bill 8 was the major focus of "Pharmacy Day at the Legislature" on January 18, when almost 100 students from University of Charleston and West Virginia University Schools of Pharmacy made visits to all Senators and Delegates encouraging their support of the legislation.

Attached is a letter students wrote legislators after their visits. Pharmacists may wish to use some of the students' talking points when they contact their Senators and Delegates requesting their support for Senate Bill 8. The names and telephone numbers of all legislators on the Legislature's Web site: www.legis.state.wv.us

The bill now goes before the Senate Committee on Judiciary where it must also be approved before going to the full Senate for a vote. It is imperative pharmacists contact their Senators and request they vote for Senate Bill 8.