WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Smith's Main Street Pharmacy Access Act Clears Ways and Means Committee

Today, Congressman Adrian Smith's (NE-03) Main Street Pharmacy Access Act, which 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, is one step closer to the finish line following its passage by the Ways and Means Committee.

Over 190 organizations support Smith's Main Street Pharmacy Access Act, including senior and rural advocacy groups, physician and provider groups, patient advocacy organizations, pharmacists, health systems, and many others.

Here is what they are saying:

"This bill is a commonsense, creative solution to address the barriers to health care access that rural and underserved communities suffer every day. I want to thank Representative Adrian Smith for championing this bill for the benefit of Nebraskans and communities across this country so that seniors will gain access to more primary care conveniently from their local pharmacist,"said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08).

"Congressman Adrian Smith continues to demonstrate strong leadership for patients in Nebraska and across the country. By advancing his legislation, Rep. Smith is helping ensure Medicare beneficiaries, particularly seniors in rural communities, can access timely testing, treatment, and preventive services from pharmacists they know and trust,"said APhA Executive Vice President and CEO Michael D. Hogue, PharmD, FAPhA, FNAP, FFIP.

"Nebraska patients rely on their local pharmacies as a frontline source of care. Congressman Smith understands the realities facing rural communities, and his leadership on this legislation will help ensure Nebraska's seniors can receive high-quality, accessible care close to home," said NPA CEO Haley Pertzborn, PharmD, RPh.

"Today, we applaud the House Ways and Means Committee's passage of the Main Street Pharmacy Access Act, which takes a major step forward in safeguarding access to pharmacist care for seniors. ASHP calls for swift passage by the House and Senate of this important legislation,"said ASHP Executive Vice President and CEO Samuel V. Calabrese, MBA, RPh, CPEL, FASHP.

"It is simply common sense: seniors in Medicare should be able to access pharmacist-provided care that their own states already allow. With a pharmacy within five miles of 90 percent of Americans - and 91 percent of seniors saying pharmacy care is easy to access - the Main Street Pharmacy Access Act closes an outdated gap in federal law, improving access to timely, cost-effective care for seniors, particularly in rural and underserved communities. NACDS commends Chairman Jason Smith and Rep. Adrian Smith, and Ranking Member Richard Neal and Rep. Brad Schneider, for championing this legislation and looks forward to working with Congress to advance this pragmatic, bipartisan bill,"said National Association of Chain Drug Stores President and CEO Steven C. Anderson.

"Public health in America is about to get stronger thanks to the Main Street Pharmacy Access Act. By expanding access to treat-and-treat services through pharmacists - the most accessible healthcare providers - we are creating avenues to keep older adults and those living with disabilities healthy and thriving. I applaud Congressman Adrian Smith for his ongoing dedication to increasing access to care for older Americans and those living with disabilities through this legislation and his ongoing work leading the House Ways & Means Committee,"said American Society of Consultant Pharmacists CEO Chad Worz, PharmD, BCGP, FASCP.

"The Future of Pharmacy Care Coalition thanks the Ways and Means Committee for advancing this legislation, and thanks Rep. Adrian Smith, Rep. Brad Schneider, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune for their leadership. We urge Congress to advance this commonsense, bipartisan legislation that can improve access to quality and cost-effective care for seniors,"said Future of Pharmacy Care Coalition Executive Director Bob Siggins.

"We commend the House Ways and Means Committee for advancing thoughtful improvements to the Medicare program that recognize the critical role pharmacists play on the front lines of care. This legislation would provide Medicare beneficiary coverage for certain pharmacist services," said CVS Health Chief Pharmacy Officer Lucille Accetta.

"Kroger commends the leadership of Chairman Jason Smith, as well as Rep. Adrian Smith and Rep. Schneider for advancing H.R. 3164, the Main Street Pharmacy Access Act through the House Ways and Means Committee. This vital legislation will expand access to testing and treatment for seniors living in rural areas - managing common respiratory conditions before they become life-threatening. Kroger celebrates this progress and urges quick passage of this bill," said Kroger Health President Colleen Lindholz.

"Our team at McKesson supports the Main Street Pharmacy Access Act (H.R. 3164) and commends the House Ways & Means Committee for advancing it. Independent pharmacies are reliable points of care, and this bipartisan legislation helps Medicare beneficiaries receive timely testing and treatment from pharmacists. We appreciate the leadership of Chairman Jason Smith and Representative Adrian Smith in advancing this effort and look forward to its continued progress toward enactment,"said Health Mart Pharmacy President Crystal Lennartz.

"As a trusted technology partner to more than half of pharmacies in the country, XiFin supports access to pharmacy care where and when it makes sense. The Main Street Pharmacy Access Act ensures seniors access to clinical services, while supporting the viability of pharmacies in healthcare deserts so they can continue serving their communities. Thank you to the Members of the House Ways and Means Committee for moving this bill forward,"said XiFin Inc. Chief Pharmacy Officer David Pope.

Stakeholder letters of support: American Pharmacists Association (APhA), American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP), Future of Pharmacy Care Coalition (FPCC), CVS Health, Kroger Health,Walmart, and Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP).