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Drake Pharmacy Students Work to Reform Health Care Through Legislation
03/12/2009
News Photo
Iowa Pharmacy Association President Bill Baer, Andrew Roberts, Sen. Jack Hatch, Stephanie Swain gather at the Capitol.
CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, 515-271-3119, lisa.lacher@drake.edu
Two Drake University pharmacy students are working to change the face of health care in Iowa through an independent study internship with Drake alumnus and Iowa Sen. Jack Hatch, D-Des Moines.
Stephanie Swain and Andrew Roberts are working with Sen. Hatch on a comprehensive reform bill, Senate File 48 (SF48), which will increase access to health care, most notably for every single child in Iowa. The bill also will alleviate shortages in the health care workforce and increase transparency in the health care system.
"Steph and Drew have been invaluable. They researched specific sections of the bill and provided arguments that would expand health care to every Iowan," said Sen. Hatch, who earned his bachelor's and graduate degrees from Drake in 1972 and 1973, respectively. "In the legislature, there are two truths, knowledge and politics; they gave me facts and I worked the politics -- priceless."
"There is not a more exciting time to be involved in politics than right now!" said Swain of Portland, Ore., who is in her third year of the Doctor of Pharmacy program and is also pursuing a master's degree in public administration.
"With the new administration taking office and health care being among the hottest topics, I am thrilled to be able to contribute my knowledge of the health care system.
"Swain and Roberts had the opportunity to present the bill at a subcommittee meeting in February. Two senators and approximately 100 lobbyists were in attendance to testify for or against sections of the bill.
Most recently, the bill has passed out of subcommittee and committee and will be on the Senate floor for debate and a vote this month.
Expanding the role of pharmacists Roberts and Swain are specifically working to help expand the role of pharmacists as health care providers.
For example, the legislation would enable pharmacists to be reimbursed by insurance providers for conducting medication therapy reviews, including developing plans for resolving patients' medication-related problems and performing health screenings and lab tests within the pharmacist's scope of practice. Pharmacists also would be reimbursed for monitoring and evaluating patients' responses to medication therapies, including assessing lab results for tests provided to pharmacists.
"Pharmacists are extremely underused in today's health care system," said Roberts of St. Joseph, Mo., who is in his second year of the Doctor of Pharmacy program. "Being an advocate for the profession may be the most effective way to help pharmacists reach their full potential.
"The interns have done extensive research worked closely with groups that have particular interest in the bill, including pharmacists, physicians and insurance companies.This internship became available for the first time last fall to students in Drake's College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Faculty members who worked with Sen. Hatch to develop the program are:
* Jane DeWitt, associate professor of social and administrative sciences in pharmacy and instructor for the independent study
* Renae Chesnut, associate dean for academic and student affairs and associate professor of pharmacy practice
* Julie Smith, director of the Drake Law School's Center for Legislative Practice
Students gain long-term benefits from internships When asked about the impact of the experience on their careers, both interns agreed the opportunity will help shape their futures.
"The scope of opportunity in pharmacy practice is huge," Roberts said. "This experience very well could help me narrow my focus into public policy."
"I have a profound and growing interest in the health care that our state and the entire U.S. population is receiving," Swain said. "My core passions are pharmacy, policy and legislation, and public health. Interning with Sen. Hatch is helping me build a foundation for them."
