Bill > S2477

This bill, the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act, aims to amend the Social Security Act to provide coverage for certain pharmacist services under Medicare Part B. The key provisions include: 1. Adding "pharmacist services" as a covered benefit under Medicare Part B, specifically for services related to the evaluation and management of patients for testing or treatment of COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, or streptococcal pharyngitis, as well as services that address a public health need during a public health emergency. 2. Establishing that payment for these pharmacist services will be 80% of the lesser of the actual charge or 85% (or 100% if the services are furnished pursuant to a federal emergency authority) of the amount determined under the physician fee schedule. 3. Prohibiting balance billing for these pharmacist services, by adding pharmacists to the list of providers who cannot bill Medicare beneficiaries for the difference between the provider's charge and the Medicare payment. 4. Allowing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to implement these provisions through an interim final rule or other means within 60 days of the bill's enactment, to ensure timely access to these pharmacist services for Medicare beneficiaries.