Hospital pharmacists are urging Congress to act on a number of their priorities, including Medicare coverage for pharmacist services and protections for residency funding.
In a July 9 letter, Tom Kraus, vice president for the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, called on lawmakers to advance bills designed to improve access to pharmacy services, reduce medication costs and protect funding of critical residency programs, according to a July 11 news release from the organization.
Among the bills cited in the letter is the Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act. It would allow Medicare to reimburse pharmacists for services such as testing, vaccination and treatment for respiratory infections.
The ASHP is also advocating for the Rebuild America’s Health Care Schools Act, which would clarify reimbursement rules for pharmacy, nursing and allied health residency programs under Medicare and Medicaid.
