House Ways and Means Committee Advances H.R. 3164, the Main Street Pharmacy Access Act (formerly Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act)

On May 21, the House Ways and Means Committee held a markup to advance several pieces of healthcare legislation to the full House of Representatives, including H.R. 3164, the Main Street Pharmacy Access Act (formerly Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act). The bill specifically provides for Medicare Part B coverage of pharmacist-administered tests for four respiratory illnesses: influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), strep throat, and COVID-19. It would also allow pharmacists to prescribe treatments for these illnesses when properly indicated. These flexibilities were initially provided during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency through various emergency waivers but have since lapsed. The Main Street Pharmacy Access Act would not preempt existing state scope-of-practice laws regarding pharmacists' ability to legally perform these services. AMCP has actively called on Members of Congress to cosponsor and ultimately enact the Main Street Pharmacy Access Act, which will preserve access to essential care administered by pharmacists and increase the country’s readiness for future public health emergencies.

View the markup summary.