Senate panel supports pharmacy education aid act
In other legislation favorable to pharmacists, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions recently passed a bipartisan bill that would provide two student loan repayment programs for certain pharmacists. The bill now moves on to the Senate floor for consideration.
Senate Bill 648, the "Pharmacy Education Aid Act of 2003," would:
• Amend the Public Health Service Act to permit payments of up to $35,000 on behalf of an individual for the repayment of pharmacy education loans for each year the recipient serves in a health care facility with a critical shortage of pharmacists. The individual must have received a baccalaureate degree in pharmacy or a doctor of pharmacy degree from an accredited program, and must agree to serve as a full-time pharmacist in the facility for at least two years.
The recipient would have to repay the government if they fail to maintain acceptable levels of academic standing, are dismissed for disciplinary reasons, voluntarily terminate their programs, or fail to provide health services in accordance with their commitments after their academic program is completed.
• Establish student loan programs to increase the number of faculty at schools of pharmacy. The bill directs each school in which such a program is established to pay at least one-ninth of the federal capital contributions, up to $35,000 annually per student. Upon completion of the employment requirements as a faculty member, an amount up to 85% of the loans (plus interest) from such a program is canceled, with the government reimbursing the school for its proportionate share of the canceled amount.
In other legislation favorable to pharmacists, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions recently passed a bipartisan bill that would provide two student loan repayment programs for certain pharmacists. The bill now moves on to the Senate floor for consideration.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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