119-s2426

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2426 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 2426

 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide pharmacy 
 payment of certain services.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 July 24, 2025

Mr. Thune (for himself, Mr. Warner, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Daines, Ms. Hassan, 
 Ms. Warren, Mr. Welch, and Ms. Cortez Masto) introduced the following 
 bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

 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 ``Equitable 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.--

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.
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