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The Role of Pharmacies in Health Care is Changing

Northeast Ohio pharmacy, behind the counter
AMANDA RABINOWITZ
/
WKSU
Northeast Ohio pharmacy, behind the counter

Changing laws, regulations and economic conditions are making the corner drug store into a different kind of place. That includes a place where you can get services once available only from doctors. 

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown
Credit TIM RUDELL / WKSU
/
WKSU
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown

A new state law taking effect in April says health insurance companies can pay pharmacists for doing things like diabetes screenings and medication consultations.  U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown says that puts Ohio in line with a growing number of states where pharmacists are taking on limited care provider roles. And he says that can help make healthcare more affordable.

“In fact, I’m working on similar bi-partisan legislation with Senator Grassley from Iowa to do a similar kind of thing nationally. So, I don’t applaud this legislature much, but I applaud them on this. I applaud the Governor signing the bill.  I think it’s a good public health bill.  I think we can do more.”

Brown says he and a bipartisan group of fellow senators are working on anti-price gauging legislation as well. 

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Tim Rudell
Tim Rudell has worked in broadcasting and news since his student days at Kent State in the late 1960s and early 1970s (when he earned extra money as a stringer for UPI). He began full time in radio news in 1972 in his home town of Canton, OH.