HOUSE BILL WOULD MANDATE TECH TRAINING

Reps Steven LaTourette (R, OH) andStephen Lynch (D, MA) have introducedsweeping federal legislation that willmandate training, education, registration,and certification requirements forpharmacy technicians nationwide.

Also known as "Emily's Act," namedafter a 2-year-old Ohio resident whodied in 2006 after a pharmacy technicianmade an error with herchemotherapy dose, HR 5491 will set afloor for states to meet but will notweaken any state laws, according tothe bill's sponsors. Currently, statesoversee pharmacists and technicians,but regulations regarding training, certification,and continuing educationvary from state to state.

The bill, which has been referred tothe House Energy and CommerceCommittee, would require states toregister pharmacy technicians andhave them pass the national PharmacyTechnician Board Certification exam,which triggers mandatory continuingeducation and renewal every 2 years.The bill also would provide grants tostates to comply with the act, and anystate accepting a grant would have toreport pharmacy technician errors tothe US Secretary of Health and HumanServices. In addition, the legislationexpresses that it is the sense of Congressthat pharmacists be capped atsupervising 3 technicians at 1 time.