Bill > AB1366

This bill aims to expand the services and reimbursement for pharmacists, particularly for "advanced practice" pharmacists, within California's healthcare system. For the Medi-Cal program, which provides health services to low-income individuals and is partly funded by the federal Medicaid program, the bill mandates that reimbursement rates for advanced practice pharmacist services, including medication therapy management (MTM) services, be equal to the fee schedule for physician services, a significant increase from the current 85% of physician rates for general pharmacist services. MTM refers to services provided by pharmacists to improve patient health outcomes related to their medications. The bill also requires Medi-Cal to seek federal approval to recognize pharmacists as healthcare providers at federally qualified health centers. Additionally, it mandates that health care service plans (like HMOs) and disability insurers must pay or reimburse for services performed by an advanced practice pharmacist enrolled as a provider, provided the coverage already reimburses similar services by other licensed healthcare professionals. This ensures that these plans and insurers cannot deny coverage for services that an advanced practice pharmacist is qualified to provide, similar to how they cover services from other providers.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1366