Pharmacists urge Congress to pass provider status legislation

Pharmacists and student pharmacists across the country have sent more than 20,000 letters and emails to Congress in support of current provider status legislation, the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) said on Thursday.

The Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act was introduced in January to the U.S. House and Senate. The bill is an important first step in gaining provider status at the federal level.

The legislation would allow Medicare patients living in medically underserved communities to access important services provided by pharmacists.

Since the introduction of the bill, APhA and the Pharmacists Provide Care campaign have been providing updates on how pharmacists can encourage their members of Congress to sign on as co-sponsors of the bill.

“The support our profession is receiving from state and federal policymakers is remarkable,” Thomas E. Menighan, APhA executive vice president and CEO, said. “We owe that growing recognition not only to the advocacy efforts by pharmacists across the country but due to the quality care they provide.”

Currently, there are 113 bipartisan co-sponsors on the House bill and 13 co-sponsors on the Senate bill.

“Getting involved in the Pharmacists Provide Care campaign and reaching out to members of Congress to explain how this legislation will make a critical difference in your community should be a priority for all of us,” Menighan said. “I am proud to see so many pharmacists helping set the course for the future of their”