(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) today applauded the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health for including H.R. 3164, the Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services (ECAPS) Act in today’s hearing, Examining Legislative Proposals to Reform Medicare Provider Payment and Bolster Health Care Cybersecurity.

The bipartisan ECAPS Act is a key component of PCMA’s Path to Patient Affordability, a roadmap for federal and state policymakers that includes six things they can do to help bring down prescription drug costs for patients and employers, while also helping independent pharmacies.

The legislation, introduced by Representatives Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Brad Schneider (D-IL), would expand access to care for seniors by allowing Medicare to reimburse pharmacists for important clinical care services they provide to patients.

Protecting the viability of independent retail pharmacies by creating pathways for pharmacists to be paid for the clinical services they provide is a pillar in PCMA’s Path to Patient Affordability. This includes providing testing and screenings, managing medications, treating certain minor conditions, expanding tele-pharmacy services, and delivering clinical services while being appropriately reimbursed for the care they provide.

In advance of the hearing, David Marin, President and CEO of PCMA, issued the following statement:

“Patients deserve lower health care costs and better access to care. Empowering pharmacists is one of the most practical ways to deliver both. For too long, state and federal laws have failed to fully recognize the value pharmacists bring to the health care system. Allowing pharmacists to practice at the top of their training and be compensated for those clinical services will expand access to care, especially in rural and underserved communities. That is exactly the type of commonsense reform patients are asking for and that policymakers should support.”

PCMA looks forward to working with Charman Guthrie, Chairman Griffith, Representative Smith, Representative Schneider, and members of the committee to advance this important conversation.