Nebraska Pharmacy Shuts Down as Pharmacist Deals with License Concerns
A pharmacy in Nebraska recently closed its doors with unclear communication for some patients after its lead pharmacist dealt with licensing concerns from the state licensing authority. Patients arrived to find a locked door, and some went days without their prescriptions.
Licensing issues can get out of hand fast, especially when pharmacists are dealing with personal struggles. The LLF National Law Firm works with pharmacists across the country and can help you if your license is on the line. Call our Professional License Defense Team today at 888-535-3686 or contact us through our website to begin protecting your license.
Nebraska Pharmacy Suddenly Closes Its Doors
Nebraska LTC Pharmacy in Lincoln shut down right before its lead pharmacist, Shannon Hammerschmidt, saw her license expire. And while the closure didn’t come out of nowhere—as there was a history of license issues leading up to it—it did cause issues for both the patients and the pharmacist in charge.
Hammerschmidt’s license issues began in 2024, when her license initially expired on January 1st of that year. After her license had lapsed, the state’s Department of Health and Human Services offered a probationary license due to previous concerns about practicing while impaired and practicing without a license.
The conditions of the probationary license required her to abstain from alcohol for six months. Hammerschmidt accepted an amended version of the offer but eventually requested that the Department of Health and Human Services place it on inactive status.
Now that time has passed, and Hammerschmidt’s license has expired, the pharmacy has closed. But it wasn’t a perfect shutdown, as some patients said they were caught off guard and had to scramble to transfer prescriptions.
License Issues Happen More Often Than You’d Think
Although a pharmacy closing without warning puts patients in a bad position, it’s unfair to immediately fault the pharmacist. Pharmacists across the country face board actions that can put their licenses at risk, all the while they are dealing with their own struggles.
If you own a pharmacy, a license issue you are working out with the board can still mean shutting your doors for some time, putting your staff out of work, and complicating patients’ access to medication. And if you’re an employed pharmacist, it can mean you’re suddenly out of a job for months or years, unsure of what comes next.
The tough part is that you’re often stuck between two bad options. You need to keep working to keep your business or career going, but you can’t work without a valid license. You may feel like you’re forced to bend the rules to continue supporting your employees or patients.
If you’re dealing with license issues, attempting to obscure them from the board or practicing without a license is never the best move. You need your license intact in the long term to keep your career options open. The LLF National Law Firm helps professionals nationwide, including pharmacists, address board investigations and licensing issues head-on. Our Professional License Defense Team can help you negotiate with your licensing board to achieve a favorable outcome and restore your license to good standing. Call today at 888-535-3686 or contact us through our website to get started.