As a pharmacist and constituent, I ask you to include the "Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act" in the next phase of emergency legislation being proposed to combat the COVID-19 public health emergency. As COVID-19 spreads, our healthcare system is strained and we struggle to provide adequate care to patients, especially in areas with a shortage of healthcare providers. The United States must immediately expand access to providers, particularly for Medicare beneficiaries who are the most vulnerable to the virus. There are over 309,000 pharmacists in the United States who stand ready to provide care to Medicare patients. Therefore, I urgently request that you include in The Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act" (H.R.592/S.109) in any emergency legislation so that Medicare patients have access to pharmacist services. This language would amend the Social Security Act to provide coverage under Medicare for pharmacists' services. Pharmacists can help during this emergency with point-of-care testing, ordering and administering vaccinations and immunizations, and initiating time sensitive therapies such as antivirals for Medicare beneficiaries. I also implore you to consider expanding the language to all Medicare beneficiaries, as the COVID-19 crisis strains the healthcare workforce of all communities, regardless of their medically underserved designation. It is important to note that this language does not expand pharmacists' scope of practice. Rather, it allows pharmacists to provide the same level of care to Medicare beneficiaries that they provide to the rest of the population, as specified in their state scope of practice laws. It is essential that the Medicare program allow pharmacists to practice at the top of their licensure to care for our nation's most vulnerable population. In areas experiencing physician shortages, pharmacists may be the only healthcare provider that is immediately accessible to patients. COVID-19 highlights why we need pharmacists to be recognized as providers. Many states understand the valuable, accessible care pharmacists can provide in their communities, and are taking action to expand pharmacist services, but are limited by the current lack of reimbursement by Medicare. Congress can take an important step to immediately increase access to needed care and reduce the strain on our healthcare system by letting pharmacists care for our nation's Medicare beneficiaries. Please consider including the "The Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act" language in emergency legislation to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you for your consideration. Please let me know if I can provide any additional information.

As a pharmacist and constituent, I ask you to include the "Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act" in the next phase of emergency legislation being proposed to combat the COVID-19 public health emergency. As COVID-19 spreads, our healthcare system is strained and we struggle to provide adequate care to patients, especially in areas with a shortage of healthcare providers. The United States must immediately expand access to providers, particularly for Medicare beneficiaries who are the most vulnerable to the virus. There are over 309,000 pharmacists in the United States who stand ready to provide care to Medicare patients. Therefore, I urgently request that you include in The Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act" (H.R.592/S.109) in any emergency legislation so that Medicare patients have access to pharmacist services. This language would amend the Social Security Act to provide coverage under Medicare for pharmacists' services. Pharmacists can help during this emergency with point-of-care testing, ordering and administering vaccinations and immunizations, and initiating time sensitive therapies such as antivirals for Medicare beneficiaries. I also implore you to consider expanding the language to all Medicare beneficiaries, as the COVID-19 crisis strains the healthcare workforce of all communities, regardless of their medically underserved designation. It is important to note that this language does not expand pharmacists' scope of practice. Rather, it allows pharmacists to provide the same level of care to Medicare beneficiaries that they provide to the rest of the population, as specified in their state scope of practice laws. It is essential that the Medicare program allow pharmacists to practice at the top of their licensure to care for our nation's most vulnerable population. In areas experiencing physician shortages, pharmacists may be the only healthcare provider that is immediately accessible to patients. COVID-19 highlights why we need pharmacists to be recognized as providers. Many states understand the valuable, accessible care pharmacists can provide in their communities, and are taking action to expand pharmacist services, but are limited by the current lack of reimbursement by Medicare. Congress can take an important step to immediately increase access to needed care and reduce the strain on our healthcare system by letting pharmacists care for our nation's Medicare beneficiaries. Please consider including the "The Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act" language in emergency legislation to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you for your consideration. Please let me know if I can provide any additional information.