HR3164Referred to Committee

Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act

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Introduced
In Committee
3
Passed One Chamber
4
Passed Both
5
Signed into Law
119th
Congress
2025-05-01
Introduced
115
Cosponsors
HR
ⓘ
Type

Sponsor

Adrian Smith
Adrian Smith
Republican · NE · Representative
Votes with party: 98.2% (545 recorded votes)

Full profile: /officials/S001172

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

Cosponsors (115)

Members who have signed on to support this bill since introduction. Source: Congress.gov.

Latest Action

The most recent step in the bill's legislative path. Committee Activity below shows referrals and reports; the full action-by-action history including floor proceedings lives at Congress.gov →

Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Voice Vote.

2026-05-21

Source: Congress.gov

Committee Activity

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Plain-English Summary

This bill would expand what pharmacists are allowed to do in healthcare settings, likely giving them more authority to provide services directly to patients without always requiring a doctor's approval first. The changes would probably affect how insurance companies reimburse pharmacists for their work and could make it easier for people to access basic healthcare services like vaccinations, medication reviews, or minor health screenings at their local pharmacy. Patients, pharmacists, and insurance companies would all be impacted by these new rules about what counts as a covered pharmacy service.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

Subjects

Health

Full Bill Text

Verbatim text published on Congress.gov via GovInfo. Use Cmd+F / Ctrl+F to search within this excerpt.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 3164 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3164 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide pharmacy payment of certain services. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 1, 2025 Mr. Smith of Nebraska (for himself, Mr. Schneider, Mrs. Harshbarger, and Ms. Matsui) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide pharmacy payment of certain services. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act''. SEC. 2. COVERAGE OF PHARMACIST SERVICES UNDER MEDICARE PART B. (a) Coverage.--Section 1861 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x) is amended-- (1) in subsection (s)(2)-- (A) in subparagraph (JJ), by adding ``and'' at the end; and (B) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: ``(KK) pharmacist services (as defined in subsection (nnn));''; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(nnn) Pharmacist Services.-- ``(1) In general.--The term `pharmacist services' means such services furnished by a pharmacist, and such services and supplies furnished as an incident to the pharmacist's service, which the pharmacist is legally authorized to perform under State law as would otherwise be covered if furnished by a physician or as an incident to a physicians' service which-- ``(A) in the case such State law requires such services to be furnished under the supervision of, or working in collaboration with, a physician or practitioner (as defined in section 1842(b)(18)(C)(i)), are so furnished under the supervision of, or working in collaboration with, such physician or practitioner in the manner and to the extent as so required by such State law; and ``(B) are-- ``(i) for visits for the evaluation and management of individuals for testing or treatment for COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, or streptococcal pharyngitis; or ``(ii) testing or treatment services that address a public health need related to a public health emergency declared under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (as determined by the Secretary). ``(2) Collaboration.--For purposes of this subsection, the term `collaboration' means a process in which a pharmacist works with a physician or practitioner (as defined in section 1842(b)(18)(C)(i)), as applicable, to deliver health care services within the scope of the pharmacist's professional expertise, with medical direction and appropriate supervision as provided for in jointly developed guidelines or other mechanisms as defined by the law of the State in which the services are performed.''. (b) Payment.--Section 1833(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)(1)) is amended-- (1) by striking ``and (HH)'' and inserting ``(HH)''; and (2) by inserting before the semicolon at the end the following: ``and (II) with respect to pharmacist services (as defined in section 1861(nnn)), the amounts paid shall be equal to 80 percent of the lesser of (i) the actual charge for the services or (ii) 85 percent (or 100 percent, in the case of such services that address a public health need described in paragraph (2)(B) of such section) of the amount determined under the payment basis under section 1848 for such services.''. (c) Prohibition on Balance Billing for Pharmacist Services.--…
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Section 1842(b)(18) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)(18)) is amended-- (1) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``or a pharmacist'' after ``a practitioner described in subparagraph (C)''; and (2) in subparagraph (B)-- (A) in the first sentence, by inserting ``, a pharmacist,'' after ``a practitioner described in subparagraph (C)''; and (B) in the third sentence-- (i) by inserting ``, a pharmacist,'' after ``a practitioner''; and (ii) by inserting ``, the pharmacist,'' after ``the practitioner''. (d) Application.--The amendments made by this section shall apply to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2026. <all>
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