HR 1770 United States House · 118th Congress

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

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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
Photo of Adrian Smith
Adrian Smith
RRepublican
NE
3
Co
Photo of A. Drew Ferguson IV
A. Drew Ferguson IV
RRepublican
GA
3
Co
Photo of Aaron Bean
Aaron Bean
RRepublican
FL
4
Co
Photo of Abigail Davis Spanberger
Abigail Davis Spanberger
DDemocratic
VA
7
Co
Photo of Alma S. Adams
Alma S. Adams
DDemocratic
NC
12
Co
Photo of Ami Bera
Ami Bera
DDemocratic
CA
6
Co
Photo of Andrea Salinas
Andrea Salinas
DDemocratic
OR
6
Co
Photo of Angie Craig
Angie Craig
DDemocratic
MN
2
Co
Photo of Ann M. Kuster
Ann M. Kuster
DDemocratic
NH
2
Co
Photo of Ashley Hinson
Ashley Hinson
RRepublican
IA
2
Co
Photo of Austin Scott
Austin Scott
RRepublican
GA
8