ARLINGTON, Va. — Congressional legislation that would expand pharmacists’ health care role — H.R. 4190, known as the provider status bill — has attained 100 co-sponsors.
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores said Tuesday that Reps. Renee Ellmers (R., N.C.), Sheila Jackson Lee (D., Texas), Hank Johnson (D., Ga.), Thomas Massie (R., Ky.), Patrick Murphy (D., Fla.) and Tim Walz (D., Minn.) are the latest co-sponsors of H.R. 4190, which was introduced in March 11.
Endorsed by NACDS, the bipartisan legislation would designate pharmacists as health care providers under the Medicare program. Specifically, the bill would amend the Social Security Act of 1935 to allow pharmacists to be reimbursed under Medicare Part B for certain health services in medically underserved communities.
The objective of the bill is to boost access to pharmacy services — subject to state scope-of-practice laws — for Medicare patients, including immunizations, disease state testing and self-management education.
