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Bill on free clinics' drug dispensing heads to Manchin

March 08, 2008 @ 06:30 PM

The Associated Press

The Associated Press

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) _ A bill that would provide state oversight over how free health clinics dispense prescription drugs has passed the Legislature.

The bill would put the clinics under the jurisdiction of the state Board of Pharmacy, which proposes to regulate them under the special category of "charitable pharmacies."

The board wants to make sure a pharmacist is in charge at each clinic to ensure drugs are being packaged and distributed properly.

Clinic administrators have complained that the bill puts an unfair burden on them and may lead to some patients being denied medication.

Gov. Joe Manchin has said he wanted both sides to reach a happy medium before the bill came to him.

The bill now goes to Manchin.