Bill > S2800

This bill, known as the "Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act," aims to expand Medicare coverage to include pharmacist services under certain specific conditions. The bill would amend the Social Security Act to allow Medicare to cover pharmacist services in health professional shortage areas, medically underserved areas, or medically underserved populations, where the pharmacist is legally licensed to perform services that would typically be covered if performed by a physician. Medicare would reimburse pharmacists at 80% of the lesser of their actual charge or 85% of the fee schedule amount that would apply if a physician had provided the service. These changes would take effect on January 1, 2027, and the Department of Health and Human Services is required to develop specific billing codes for pharmacist services under the physician fee schedule. The bill represents an effort to improve healthcare access in areas with limited medical providers by recognizing pharmacists' expanded clinical roles and allowing them to be directly reimbursed by Medicare for certain medical services.

Budget and Finance

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2800/all-info