Health IT lending plan in Congress wins praise from independent pharmacy

ALEXANDRIA, Va. A new proposal in Congress to make it easier for smaller-scale pharmacy owners to obtain low-cost loans to install health information technology was strongly endorsed Monday by the independent pharmacy industry’s chief lobbying group.

The National Community Pharmacists Association lauded Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper, D-Pa., for her sponsorship of the Small Business Financing and Investment Act of 2009, or H.R.3854. The bill, which has passed the House Small Business Committee, would allow state-licensed pharmacists and other health care providers to use a lending program for HIT through reduced-cost loans. Those loans would be guaranteed up to 90%, according to the bill, and borrowers could take advantage of a subsidized deferment period of up to 3 years. The bill is likely to move quickly to a vote by the full House, according to lobbyists.

NCPA EVP and CEO Bruce Roberts called the Dahlkemper proposal “a positive development for independent community pharmacies,” particularly in light of the fact that “the federal stimulus bill (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) passed earlier this year accelerated the push for creating a national, interoperable health care system by 2014.”

Electronic health records, or EHRs, are a key component of that effort, he pointed out.

“Health information technology improves the quality of patient care, because health care providers are able to operate in a more efficient and coordinated manner,” said Roberts. “Evidence suggests that these breakthroughs will also save our health care delivery system money, but the upfront investments in technology are not inconsequential for small business owners who are already focused on their present daily operating challenges.

“That’s why nearly 23,000 independent community pharmacies across America are strongly supportive of… Dahlkemper’s leadership in getting her provision creating a lending program for pharmacists who invest in technology adopted in the House Small Business Committee’s larger bill on financing and investment,” added NCPA’s top executive. “The timing of this financial assistance is especially appreciated with the federal government’s drive to have system-wide use of electronic health records in a few years. Now pharmacists can focus on helping to create a system that works for everybody and not worry about the implementation costs of participation.”