The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) said on Oct. 9 that a majority of members of the U.S. House of Representatives support the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act.
"There is need for improving access to health care and for most Americans, pharmacists are already on the front lines of their health care," APhA Executive Vice President and CEO, Thomas Menighan said. "The primary goal of the bill is to expand access for those seniors in medically underserved communities, and our nation’s 300,000 pharmacists stand ready to help.”
U.S. Reps. Brett Guthrie (R-KY), G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), Todd Young (R-IN) and Ron Kind (D-WI) introduced the legislation earlier this year. The bill allows seniors in medically underserved communities to access those pharmacists’ patient care services that are permitted by state scope of practice laws through Medicare Part B coverage.
"This is a crucial moment in the public debate on how to improve health care access and how to reduce America's health care costs," Menighan said. “National surveys show Americans believe pharmacists are integral members of their health care team. Now, the majority of the U.S. House has stated that they agree."
U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Robert Casey (D-PA) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) introduced a companion bill in the U.S. Senate. That bill has 31 co-sponsors.
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