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Provider Status Bill Reintroduced in Senate with Strong Bipartisan Support

Jan 13, 2017

Paul W. Abramowitz, Pharm.D., Sc.D. (Hon.), FASHP

IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE that I can announce that on Thursday evening, Senators Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), Robert Casey (D-Pa.), and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), along with 24 other original co-sponsors, reintroduced the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act (S. 109). This legislation is the same as last year’s provider status bill, with the exception of the new bill number, S. 109. This is significant not only because of the quick timing of the reintroduction, but also because of the high number of Senators who have signed on as original co-sponsors. The Patient Access to Pharmacists’ Care Coalition (PAPCC), in which ASHP serves on the steering committee, set a goal late last year of introducing the new bill in 2017 with 20 co-sponsors. We are pleased to see that this goal was not only met but exceeded.

On the House side we expect reintroduction soon. Our lead sponsor to the House bill, Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), has been leading the charge and will reintroduce the bill with the same bill number as last Congress, H.R. 592. Again, the language will be same as last year. We expect the House bill to be reintroduced with approximately 90 co-sponsors.

We are greatly encouraged to see the momentum from last session carry over to the new 115th Congress, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to passing this important legislation. As a lead member of the PAPCC, ASHP will be working diligently to help facilitate passage of the legislation, most likely as part of a larger Medicare package later this year. In fact, early discussions between the PAPCC and key congressional staff are already occurring, as we seek to position the legislation to be a part of a larger Medicare bill.

I will continue to update you on the progress on provider status as new developments arise. Thank you so much for being a member of ASHP. It’s because of you that we are the premier organization in pharmacy.

Sincerely,

Paul

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