US Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act
Big news from Capitol Hill: The Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives with bipartisan support.
APhA has continued working on your behalf to get Congress to approve a bill that recognizes pharmacists for the incredible value they add to the health care system. Our efforts have paid off. Throughout the pandemic, you’ve demonstrated your unwavering commitment and risen to the occasion in a most uncertain and dangerous time. We’ve been right there beside you advocating—and achieving—recognition and authorities that put you in a central role to free Americans from the pandemic through vaccination. Now is the time to aggressively push to get a bill across the finish line that recognizes pharmacists as providers
Advocacy Next Steps
We are using our relationships with congressional leaders and vigorously recruiting more cosponsors to get the bill in front of the appropriate committees. We need your help! APhA members can play a significant role in getting the job done. We need you to contact your representatives.
TAKE ACTION NOW
About the Bill
This legislation would give tens of millions of Medicare patients in medically underserved communities access to pharmacist-provided primary health care services. This is critically important for both APhA members and patients who would otherwise struggle to stay safe and healthy.
The bill would enable pharmacists to sustainably deliver Medicare Part B services that are already authorized by their respective state laws. These services may include:
• Medication management
• Management of chronic conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension
• Point of care testing (e.g., cholesterol, COVID-19, influenza, strep)
• Immunization screening and administration
• Tobacco cessation services
• Transition of care services
“In many states across the country, pharmacists are already critical members of the health care team and are compensated appropriately for that work. It’s time for Medicare to get with the program and recognize what these states have already learned—pharmacists provide great care,” said APhA Executive Vice President and CEO Scott J. Knoer.
The Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act’s primary sponsors are Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) and Rep. David McKinley (R-WV). The bill’s introduction was led by the APhA Government Affairs team, who have been actively pursuing provider status for years. You’ll hear much more from us in the coming weeks.
For now, get involved and be and Provider Status advocate by accessing the tools on our Provider Status web page
