Pharmacists' views on health care reform

This study explored pharmacists' opinions on a reformed health care system. Questionnaires were mailed to 523 pharmacists about the structure, funding, cost control mechanisms, benefits, and features to be covered by a national health plan; 57.2% responded. The pharmacists showed no consensus regarding the basic structure of a national health plan. They favored increased taxes on alcohol and cigarettes to fund the plan and adamantly opposed increased individual income or employer payroll taxes. Pharmacists were not convinced that plan costs could be controlled. They strongly supported benefits for preventive services; however, they ranked coverage of outpatient prescription drugs relatively low. Pharmacists' opinions on health care reform differed according to position (e.g., owner or staff) and age.