Passed by Ways and Means Committee: Smith’s Bill to Expand Seniors’ Healthcare Options
Today, Congressman Adrian Smith’s (NE-03) legislation to expand healthcare access for America’s seniors passed out of the Ways and Means Committee. The Main Street Pharmacy Access Act now awaits consideration on the House floor.
If signed into law, the Main Street Pharmacy Access Act would empower local pharmacists to play a more active role in community health by allowing Medicare Part B reimbursement for testing and treating common respiratory illnesses. In accordance with existing state laws, this change would make it easier for seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries to receive timely care right at their neighborhood pharmacy.
“Nine out of ten Americans live within five miles of a pharmacy, making pharmacists among the most accessible healthcare professionals in our communities, especially in rural areas. Yet outdated bureaucratic barriers keep seniors from getting the prompt, expert care pharmacists are trained to provide close-to-home. My Main Street Pharmacy Access Act is a practical, bipartisan fix to ensure that patients can access the care they need—when and where they need it. I am grateful a bipartisan group of my colleagues voted yes on this legislation, and I look forward to its passage on the House Floor,”said Smith.
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Following is a transcript of Smith’s hearing remarks as prepared for delivery:
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the members of the Committee for considering theMain Street Pharmacy Access Act, formerly known as ECAPS.
I would like to give special thanks to Mr. Schneider, who has been terrific to work with on this legislation. Across Nebraska and throughout rural America, access to health care can be a challenge. By nature of living in a rural area, oftentimes patients must drive significant distances to receive health care.
The long drive can be a significant obstacle to receiving care in a timely manner, especially for seniors. It can be the reason someone delays, for example, getting a flu test. If they do have the flu, that delay can lead to the illness progressing and a late start on treatment.
I mention seniors here because, despite private insurance and Medicaid providing coverage, Medicare does not provide reimbursement to pharmacists for testing and treating common respiratory illnesses.
A person could go their whole life getting tested for the flu by their community pharmacist. But the day this person turns 65 and enrolls in Medicare, the community pharmacist no longer offers them the same service because Medicare doesn’t pay for it. In turn, the senior now may have to drive several towns over to get a flu test.
Pharmacists are among the most accessible health care professionals in the country. Approximately nine in ten Americans live within five miles of a pharmacy. Pharmacists play an important role in filling health care gaps, particularly in rural areas, and this role shouldn’t end when a person turns 65.
My Main Street Pharmacy Access Act takes a practical, targeted approach to addressing this gap for seniors. Our legislation allows Medicare to reimburse pharmacists for testing and treating common respiratory illnesses.
Importantly, this bill doesn’t touch the scope of practice. It totally defers to states, and states will continue to determine what pharmacists are permitted to do. But in states where pharmacists are allowed to test and treat common respiratory illnesses, this bill allows Medicare to cover it, just like private insurance and Medicaid already do.
This bill is about access. This is about making life easier for Medicare beneficiaries. Improving access to basic testing and treatment can help patients receive care earlier and reduce unnecessary emergency room visits.
I appreciate the broad bipartisan and stakeholder support this legislation has received from pharmacists, some of whom are in the audience today, along with patient advocates and rural health organizations.
I thank my colleagues who have worked collaboratively on this issue with me, and I urge members to support the bill.