ASHP today applauded the House Ways and Means Committee’s passage of the Main Street Pharmacy Access Act (H.R. 3164), bipartisan legislation that would expand Medicare beneficiaries’ access to pharmacist-provided testing and treatment services for seniors.
The legislation would allow Medicare Part B to cover testing and treatment for common respiratory illnesses, including influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and strep throat, in states that already authorize pharmacists to provide these services.
“Today, we applaud the House Ways and Means Committee’s passage of the Main Street Pharmacy Access Act, which takes a major step forward in safeguarding access to pharmacist care for seniors,” said ASHP Executive Vice President and CEO Samuel V. Calabrese. “ASHP calls for swift passage by the House and Senate on this important legislation.”
Introduced by Reps. Adrian Smith (R‑NE), Brad Schneider (D‑IL), Diana Harshbarger (R‑TN) and Doris Matsui (D‑CA), the legislation has been a long-standing advocacy priority for ASHP and its pharmacy partners.
Pharmacists across care settings – including hospitals, health systems, ambulatory clinics, and community pharmacies – are highly accessible members of the healthcare team and bring critical expertise to patient care. Expanding Medicare payment for these services would help ensure seniors can access timely testing and treatment in the communities where they live and receive care.
The legislation is designed to improve access to care by enabling Medicare beneficiaries to receive services pharmacists are already authorized to provide under state law, helping ensure patients receive timely care in appropriate settings and reducing strain across the healthcare system.
ASHP will continue working with Congress and coalition partners to advance the legislation and expand access to pharmacist-provided care for Medicare beneficiaries.
About ASHP
ASHP is the largest association of pharmacy professionals in the United States, representing over 65,000 pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians in all patient care settings, including hospitals, ambulatory clinics, and health-system community pharmacies. For over 80 years, ASHP has championed innovation in pharmacy practice, advanced education and professional development, and served as a steadfast advocate for members and patients. In addition, ASHP is an accrediting body for pharmacy residency and technician training programs and provides comprehensive resources to support pharmacy professionals through every stage of their careers. For more information, visit ashp.org and ASHP’s consumer website, SafeMedication.com. Learn more about ASHP’s public awareness campaign at yourpharmacist.org.
