Federal Pharmacist Provider Status Legislation Re-Introduced
The California Pharmacists Association (CPhA) applauds the re-introduction of federal pharmacist provider status legislation, The Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act, in Congress this month. With the new Congress now in session, the House of Representatives (which retains bill number HR 592) and the Senate (which received a new bill number S 109) legislative measures are priorities for the Patient Access to Pharmacists' Care Coalition (PAPCC), which is the federal complement to CPhA's state legislation, SB 493 (Hernandez), passed in 2013. CPhA participates in the federal coalition efforts through the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations.
"This legislation will enable Medicare patients in medically underserved communities to have better access to important health care services that are often inaccessible to many Medicare beneficiaries, including health and wellness tests and chronic disease management. This legislation increases access by enabling pharmacists to provide services they are authorized to provide under state law, and are prepared to provide through their extensive professional education," said Vince Ventimiglia, Vice Chair of Leavitt Partners and advisor to PAPCC. "We look forward to working with Congress to enact this important legislation into law."
