Legislation Updates

By Rosalin Preechakul, PharmD, BCPS, APh, Legal Affairs Co-Chair

CSHP focuses on a number of legislative bills that can affect the pharmacy practice. Below are some bills that CSHP supports and have created a letter template that members can use to send support to their local representatives.

SB 958 (Limón)- Medication and Patient Safety Act of 2022

CSHP is asking for support of SB 958 – oppose the practice of White Bagging

This bill aims to stop the practice of white bagging, by preventing health plans from refusing to cover infused or injected medications the health provider has in stock, if use is required for patient safety, integrity, or timely care.

Health plans have started to implement policies that restrict patient access by requiring the use of plan specified vendors for crucial infusion and injectable medications in healthcare settings. This practice is known as white-bagging and can result in nonoptimal drug use, unnecessary hospital admissions, and delays in treatment.

Timeline

Lead Authors: Limón (S), Portantino (S) Introduced in 2/9/22 Last Action on 05/27/2022: [House] Referred to Com. On HEALTH.

Letter of Support

To submit your letter of support please click the link below https://ujoin.co/campaigns/1781/actions/public?action_id=1828

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S. 1362/H.R. 2759 - Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Area Enhancement Act

CSHP is asking for support of S.1362/ HR2759 - Pharmacists Achieving Provider StatusProposed Bill in Congress

This is a bipartisan bill that would enable Medicare beneficiaries to access essential patient care services provided by pharmacists in medically underserved areas.

Currently, federal barriers prevent Medicare beneficiaries from accessing healthcare services from their pharmacist. The bill aligns Medicare state laws, which allow pharmacists to provide a variety of care services, including medication management, monitoring chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, smoking cessation services, and coordinating transitions of care. This bill is a major step toward ensuring that all pharmacists can be part of increasing access to healthcare.

The legislation does not expand the types of services pharmacists can provide but it simply allows pharmacists to be paid when they provide healthcare services to a Medicare beneficiary.

Timeline

Cosponsors: 70 cosponsors (39D/31R) Introduced in 4/22/21 Latest action on Senate - 04/26/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

Letter of Support

To submit your letter of support please click the link below https://ujoin.co/campaigns/1357/actions/public/1620086723?action_id=1422