Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act
This bill expands Medicare Part B coverage to include specific pharmacist services, directly affecting Medicare beneficiaries and pharmacists who provide these services. It adds new coverage for pharmacist evaluations and treatments related to certain illnesses (like COVID-19, flu, or strep throat) and public health emergencies, requiring payment at 80% of the lesser of actual charge or 85% of physician payment rates (100% during emergencies). The bill also prohibits balance billing for these services, ensuring beneficiaries pay only the standard Medicare copayment. These changes aim to improve access to pharmacist care during health crises while aligning payment with existing physician service frameworks.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2023
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Mar 23, 2023
Last action Dec 17, 2024
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
4
Key actions
0
Committee
3
Dec 17, 2024
Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
lower
Mar 31, 2023
Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
lower
Mar 23, 2023
Committee
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
lower
Mar 23, 2023
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 148 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Adrian Smith
RRepublican
Co
A. Drew Ferguson IV
RRepublican
Co
Aaron Bean
RRepublican
Co
Abigail Davis Spanberger
DDemocratic
Co
Alma S. Adams
DDemocratic
Co
Ami Bera
DDemocratic
Co
Andrea Salinas
DDemocratic
Co
Angie Craig
DDemocratic
Co
Ann M. Kuster
DDemocratic
Co
Ashley Hinson
RRepublican
Co
Austin Scott
RRepublican
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