Amendment makes pharmacists eligible for IT loans

Pharmacists have been included in legislation intended to help small medical practices adopt healthcare information technology. The Small Business Health Information Technology Financing Act, an amendment introduced by House Subcommittee Chairwoman Kathy Dahlkemper (D-PA), makes provisions for state-licensed pharmacists and other healthcare providers to use a lending program for health IT. The program would provide reduced-cost loans guaranteed up to 90 percent, with a subsidized deferment period of up to three years. The amendment was included in H.R.3854, the Small Business Financing and Investment Act of 2009, which was passed by the U.S. House Small Business Committee and is slated for vote by the full House.