With the COVID-19 public health emergency soon to expire, U.S. Reps. Adrian Smith (R-NE), Larry Bucshon (R-IN), and Buddy Carter (R-GA) proposed a bipartisan bill that would ensure Medicare patients are able to continue accessing care and services that pharmacists provided during the pandemic.
“While I applaud the end of the public health emergency, we must evaluate what policy changes made a positive impact on patient care,” Rep. Smith said. “Pharmacists are already trusted partners in seniors’ care, which is why we should allow Medicare to permanently reimburse for pharmacist-administered testing, vaccinating, and delivering of medications for common respiratory illnesses.”
Rep. Smith on March 23 sponsored the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act, H.R. 1770, with 10 original cosponsors, including Reps. Bucshon and Carter, along with U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Brad Schneider (D-IL). The bill would amend the Social Security Act to provide pharmacy payment of certain services, according to the text of the bill.
“Seniors in Indiana’s 8th Congressional District and in communities across the country have come to rely on the critical care and services that pharmacists provide,” said Rep. Bucshon. “The Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act will help ensure that Hoosier pharmacists have the ability to continue to provide the care that they are already licensed to provide and that their communities need, and I am proud to help give them that support.”
The bill would continue Medicare coverage of pharmacist-administered tests for common respiratory illnesses, such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, strep throat, and COVID-19, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
“Pharmacists are among the most trusted and accessible health care professionals in the country,” Rep. Carter, a pharmacist himself, said. “This important, bipartisan legislation will preserve that relationship by ensuring coverage at the pharmacy counter for Medicare patients battling COVID-19, the flu, and other respiratory diseases.”
The measure also would allow pharmacists to prescribe treatments when warranted by testing and administering vaccinations for such illnesses when available, all flexibilities that were provided during the COVID-19 pandemic that are set to expire when the public health emergency declaration ends on May 11, the summary says.
The legislation is supported by the Future of Pharmacy Care Coalition, which includes members such as the American Pharmacists Association, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, CVS Health, Good Neighbor Pharmacy, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, Walgreens, and Walmart, among others.
“During the pandemic, pharmacists demonstrated their immeasurable value providing care to communities big and small,” said Rep. Schneider. “We need to build on these lessons and ensure pharmacists are able to continue providing care and receiving reimbursement for services related to COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and strep throat. I’m proud to be working on this important initiative with my Republican colleague on the Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Adrian Smith.”