Federal Programs
Pharmacy Provider Status Legislation Re-Introduced In U.S. House And Senate!
The Tennessee Pharmacists Association (TPA) applauds the numerous U.S. House and Senate Sponsors and Co-Sponsors for re-introducing the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act, pharmacy’s most widely supported and vitally important national-level legislation.As a partner in the Patient Access to Pharmacists’ Care Coalition (PAPCC), TPA greatly appreciates the numerous U.S. Representatives and U.S .Senators who have continued their support and co-sponsorship for this legislation [numbered as H.R. 592 and S. 109] in this current 115th Congress.
The Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act seeks to recognize the role that pharmacists actively play in addressing patient access-to-care issues in medically underserved communities throughout the nation by making several important changes in federal law. Here are some particular considerations with regard to this legislation:
- Who Does This Legislation Affect? State-licensed pharmacists with a B.S. Pharm. or Pharm.D. degree.
- What Services Are Covered? Pharmacists’ services according to state scope of practice laws.
- Where Can These Services Be Provided? Medically underserved communities (i.e., Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs), Medically Underserved Populations (MUPs), or Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) as designated by the Federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)). Currently, 93 of 95 Counties in Tennessee qualify for the designation of “Medically Underserved”.
- What Reimbursement Would Be Authorized? Pharmacist services would be reimbursed at 85% of the physician fee schedule, consistent with reimbursement for other non-physician practitioners.
Please ask your U.S. Senators and Representative to support the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act. Communicating with them via the Tennessee Pharmacists Legislative Action Network (T-PLAN) is fast and simple. T-PLAN provides a legislator look-up tool, as well as an email message for you to customize as you choose. You can review a list of Tennessee-specific talking points by CLICKING HERE.
1. Visit the TPA T-PLAN site
2. Customize your email to your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators
3. Send your email
About the TPA: The Tennessee Pharmacists Association (TPA) advances, protects, and promotes high-quality pharmacist-provided patient care in Tennessee. TPA represents more than 3,000 pharmacy professionals and is the only membership organization serving all pharmacy professionals, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians in Tennessee, in all practice categories and across the state.
About the Coalition: The Patient Access to Pharmacists’ Care Coalition (PAPCC) is a multi-stakeholder and interdisciplinary initiative. Membership is comprised of organizations representing patients, pharmacists, and pharmacies, as well as other interested stakeholders. The mission of PAPCC is to develop and help enact a federal policy proposal that would enable patient access to, and payment for, Medicare Part B services by state-licensed pharmacists in medically underserved communities. Its primary goal is to expand medically underserved patients’ access to pharmacist services consistent with state scope of practice law. For more information, go to http://pharmacistscare.org/.
