Recommendations highlight the role of pharmacists in expanding access to care
Washington, D.C. – The National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention and a coalition of 14 organizations are urging policymakers to expand access to healthcare by fully utilizing pharmacists as integral members of the care team.
In a joint policy statement, updating 2020 recommendations, the coalition outlines reforms needed to remove barriers that prevent patients from accessing vital pharmacist-provided care, such as chronic disease management, vaccinations, and testing services.
Chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease remain the leading drivers of healthcare costs, hospitalizations, and preventable deaths. Evidence shows that when pharmacists are part of patient-centered, team-based care, health outcomes improve, and costs go down.
“Patient-centered, team-based care, which includes pharmacists, improves patient outcomes and is cost-effective,” said Dr. Warren A. Jones, past president of the American Academy of Family Physicians and professor emeritus at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
Over 90% of Americans live within five miles of a pharmacy, making pharmacies the most accessible points of care for many people. Yet, residents in many states face barriers to accessing pharmacist care due to scope of practice limitations and unsustainable care and payment models.
The pandemic underscored the need to empower pharmacists to deliver critical services like testing and vaccinations. “Thirty-two states have enacted 75 policies from this coalition’s first set of recommendations, significantly improving people’s access to care,” said John M. Clymer, executive director of the National Forum. “Our aim is to build on that progress and ensure that all Americans have access to care and the opportunity to attain good health.”
As the nation continues to prepare for future public health challenges, enabling pharmacists to practice at the top of their licenses is more urgent than ever.
To address healthcare disparities, reduce preventable deaths, and support sustainable care delivery, the coalition urges policymakers to adopt the following changes:
- Ensure Medicare reimbursement: Establish permanent Medicare Part B coverage for pharmacist-provided services, supporting sustainable care delivery.
- Clarify reimbursement authority: Enable Medicare and Medicaid to reimburse pharmacists for clinical services, including screenings, immunizations, and chronic disease management, with proper coding and billing systems.
- Enhance billing opportunities: Allow higher-level billing for pharmacists’ evaluation and management services under Medicare, improving access to care.
- Adopt pandemic-era flexibilities: Make permanent pandemic-era pharmacy authority changes that improve access to clinical care and essential medications.
- Expand telehealth Services: Empower pharmacists to provide telehealth and telepharmacy care, especially in rural and underserved areas.
The full Joint Policy Statement is available for download at natforum.org/PharmacistPolicyStatement.
Organizations signing the letter represent patients, healthcare providers, public health, and payers nationwide.
- American Foundation for Women’s Health/StopAfib.org
- American Pharmacists Association
- Anticoagulation Forum
- Association of Black Cardiologists
- BallengeRx Consulting
- Family Heart Foundation
- Global Healthy Living Foundation
- Global Liver Institute
- Independent Health
- National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations
- National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention
- National Lipid Association
- Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association
- The Mended Hearts
- WomenHeart
Media Contact
John Clymer
Executive Director, National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention
202-903-7303
john.clymer@nationalforum.org
