Pharmacy orgs applaud House intro of bipartisan legislation to preserve Medicare pharmacy access
Pharmacy organizations—including The National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the American Pharmacists Association and the American Society of Health System Pharmacists—are commending the introduction of bipartisan legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R. 1770) that would help preserve Americans’ access to critical pharmacy-based services.
“Recent surveys have shown that the vast majority of Americans want the nation to learn and act based on the lessons of the pandemic. Some of the most important lessons focus on patient access, and the bipartisan H.R. 1770 would help to ensure that seniors can continue to rely on their trusted pharmacies and pharmacy teams for needed care,” said NACDS president and CEO Steve Anderson. “NACDS commends U.S. Representatives Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) and Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.) for taking up this issue and for putting patients first.
Anderson added, “Pharmacies are the most accessible healthcare destinations, existing within five miles of nearly every American. Throughout the pandemic, pharmacies stepped up to deliver equitable care to patients nationwide. Patients now expect this access to remain — so that they may continue to receive timely and consistent care from their pharmacies, including services to combat COVID-19, influenza, RSV and strep throat. Moving forward with confidence requires ensuring we remain prepared as a nation, and that means maintaining pharmacy access through H.R. 1770.”
[Read more: NACDS report highlights role local pharmacies, pharmacists play in patient-centered services]
Notably, Americans view the importance of pharmacy access as a lesson that must be learned from the past three years, NACDS noted. A poll by Morning Consult, commissioned by NACDS and conducted Dec. 7-12, 2022, found that 64% of American adults—including majorities of Republicans, Democrats and Independents—believe “Learning the lessons of the pandemic means keeping in place policies that make it easier for patients to access services from pharmacists and other pharmacy team members—including vaccinations.” Among those 65 years and older, the level of support jumps to 77%. Also, 86% of adults—and an amazing 96% of those 65 years and older—say it is “very easy” or “somewhat easy” to access pharmacies—making them the most accessible healthcare destination tested."
ASHP and the American Pharmacists Association jointly applauded the introduction of the bipartisan legislation, noting that it will ensure pharmacists can continue providing seniors with access to essential care and services for COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus services and strep throat.
“We commend bipartisan lawmakers for introducing federal legislation to protect the role pharmacists play to deliver essential care and services to America’s seniors,” said Paul Abramowitz, CEO at ASHP, and Ilisa BG Bernstein, Interim CEO at APhA. “Pharmacists in all settings, including rural communities, hospitals, clinics, and health centers, are on the frontlines and have supported Americans through the worst public health emergency in a generation. H.R. 1770 would empower older Americans, who are at higher risk of contracting infectious diseases and needing hospitalization, to continue to rely on services provided by pharmacists in their local communities. While Americans with private insurance, Medicaid beneficiaries, and federal employees may be covered, America’s seniors will be left behind if Congress doesn’t act to ensure access to essential pharmacist services in Medicare.”
[Read more: NACDS, Johns Hopkins report: Pharmacies play a vital role in achieving health equity]
ASHP and APhA are executive committee members of the Future of Pharmacy Care Coalition, a group representing pharmacists and community pharmacies of all sizes serving millions of patients daily across the U.S. Other coalition members include NACDS, Abbott, AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, CVS Health, Good Neighbor Pharmacy, Health Mart, Kroger, McKesson, Medicine Shoppe, Walgreens and Walmart.
The full text of H.R. 1770 can be found here.