Bill > HR3164

This bill, known as the "Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act," aims to expand Medicare Part B coverage to include certain pharmacist services during public health emergencies and for specific infectious disease testing and treatment. Under the proposed legislation, pharmacists would be able to provide services that they are legally authorized to perform under state law, such as evaluation and management visits for COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and streptococcal pharyngitis. The services must be performed under the supervision or collaboration of a physician, following state-specific guidelines. Medicare would cover 80% of these services, with the payment rate set at 85% (or 100% for public health emergency services) of the standard physician payment rate. The bill prohibits balance billing for these pharmacist services, meaning patients cannot be charged additional fees beyond the Medicare-covered amount. These provisions would take effect on January 1, 2026, potentially expanding healthcare access by allowing pharmacists to play a more direct role in patient care during public health situations.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3164/all-info