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ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a new amendment under the current declaration of the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) that will extend through December 2029 selected current amendments that facilitate pharmacy access.
The PREP Act remains a critical tool to maintain pharmacies as vital access points for vaccines and testing for routine and emerging health threats — and to accelerate the ability for pharmacies to provide key services during an emergency response.
NACDS has urged consistently that the PREP Act and states’ efforts to codify aspects of it are vital for people’s health, and essential for pharmacies’ planning for the duration of this year’s respiratory season and beyond. HHS’ move demonstrates a continued collaboration between the federal government and America’s pharmacies when it comes to enhancing access to important services that advance public health.
National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) president and CEO Steven Anderson said of the news:
“This is an important action for people’s access to their trusted pharmacy.
“Of particular importance, the extension of the PREP Act will help ensure the ability of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy interns to provide services that Americans need and expect.
“People rely on the healthcare services offered at their pharmacy. In fact, according to a poll conducted by Morning Consult and commissioned by NACDS in October of 2023, 81% of adults in the United States believe it is important to update policies to ensure that people permanently have the same access to pharmacy vaccination, testing and treatment services that were available during the last pandemic. Similarly, more than 70% of Americans support pharmacists performing more healthcare services.
“NACDS is urging states to utilize this time to continue to enact legislation to permanently authorize pharmacy teams to conduct services in alignment with the current authorities. Remarkably, almost every state has enacted laws to codify different PREP Act policies for pharmacy personnel. We continue to see meaningful progress in this regard across the states, and that important work needs to continue.
“At the same time, NACDS continues to urge the enactment of federal legislation: the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act (H.R. 1770/S. 2477). This bipartisan bill would help ensure that seniors in Medicare maintain prompt access to essential pharmacist services that are authorized under state laws. NACDS also urges Congress to act on real PBM reform because the ability of pharmacies to meet Americans’ needs hinges on pharmacy viability.”
A recent NACDS letter to the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy (OPPR) demonstrates the vital role of the pharmacy when it comes to supporting robust responses to current and future public health threats — including several recommendations that would help bolster pharmacies’ ability to engage in routine and emergency response efforts moving forward. Notably, among the recommendations in the October 2024 letter, NACDS called for an extension of the remaining PREP Act authorities.
The comments follow a productive meeting with the OPPR in September 2024, during which NACDS and representatives from NACDS member pharmacies discussed pharmacy needs for the current respiratory season as well as future, potential response efforts.
