March 20, 2014─A bipartisan group in the U.S. House has introduced a bill to expand access to pharmacist-provided health services in communities with few physicians and other health professionals. [ms-protect-content id=”2799″]
Reps. Bret Guthrie (R−Ky.), G.K. Butterfield (D−N.C.), and Todd Young (R−Ind.) filed H.R. 4190 on March 11 and it was referred to both the Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means committees. Their bill would recognize state-licensed pharmacists as health care providers for purposes of Medicare Part B reimbursement when they provide services in medically underserved communities as “if furnished by a physician, or as an incident to a physician’s service.” Backers say examples include immunizations, diabetes screenings and education, cardiovascular screenings, and behavioral therapy. Under the bill, Medicare would pay pharmacists who provide such services a percentage of the current physician fee schedule, or pursuant to pharmacist specific codes as part of that schedule.
The Patient Access to Pharmacists’ Care Coalition, a group of more than 20 organizations representing pharmacists and pharmacies, is leading efforts to pass the bill. “This bill will make a tremendous difference to patients needing additional access to the critical health care services that pharmacists provide,” said American Society of Health-System Pharmacists CEO Paul W. Abramowitz. “There is a significant body of evidence showing that pharmacists contribute to improved health outcomes, enhanced patient satisfaction, and lower health care costs when they are part of the health care team.”
According to ASHP, the proposal before Congress could pave the way for private payers and state Medicaid agencies to begin reimbursing pharmacists for these types of services.[/ms-protect-content]