In a Nov. 14 letter, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and other pharmacy organizations asked CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, MD, to consider expanding pharmacists’ scope of practice.
The letter builds off Dr. Oz’s early October comments, when he encouraged states to “evaluate the licensure of pharmacists and free them to be able to provide great service.” The pharmacy organizations asked to meet with him and discuss these two points:
1. Broadening the eligibility of Medicare Part B reimbursement for pharmacists to include complex services. Currently, physicians can bill Medicare for pharmacist-provided services, but these are limited to lowest evaluation and management codes, and do not match pharmacist’ licensure, according to the letter.
2. Allowing pharmacists to enroll in the Medicare provider enrollment, chain and ownership system. This would allow coverage for Medicare beneficiaries with a pharmacist-initiated prescription.
The ASHP, Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, American College of Clinical Pharmacy, American Pharmacists Association and American Society of Consultant Pharmacists signed the letter.
