National Coalition Applauds Senate for Introducing Bipartisan Legislation to Ensure Seniors’ Access to Essential Pharmacist Services

The Future of Pharmacy Care Coalition urges Congress to pass the Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act to ensure Medicare beneficiaries have access to essential care and services provided by pharmacists within state scope of practice laws.

WASHINGTON, DC, July 25, 2025 – Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) this week introduced S.2426, the Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act (ECAPS), bipartisan legislation that would ensure Medicare beneficiaries can access select testing and treatment services from pharmacists. ECAPS allows pharmacists to receive payment from Medicare Part B to provide select services to seniors for certain respiratory conditions. Senior populations, including those living in rural and other underserved areas, are particularly vulnerable to complications from common respiratory conditions. Payments would apply only in states where pharmacists are already permitted by state law to deliver these services. More than 170 organizations support ECAPS, including rural and senior advocacy groups, physician and provider groups, patient advocacy organizations, pharmacists, health systems, and many others.

“The Future of Pharmacy Care Coalition commends Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) for championing the Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act (ECAPS) to ensure seniors, including those living in rural areas and vulnerable communities, can turn to their local pharmacists for testing and treatment services that can protect them from certain common respiratory conditions. Congress must move with urgency to provide seniors with Medicare coverage in states where pharmacists can offer testing and treatment services for conditions that, although common, can quickly become life-threatening if not properly managed.”

ECAPS was referred to the Senate Committee on Finance. This May, bipartisan members of Congress introduced ECAPS in the U.S. House of Representatives. H.R. 3164 is championed in the U.S. House by Representatives Adrian Smith (R-NE), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), and Doris Matsui (D-CA). H.R. 3164 was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and House Committee on Ways and Means.

The Critical Role of America’s Pharmacists

• Pharmacists are the Most Accessible Health Care Provider. Nine in 10 Americans live within five miles of a pharmacy, and patients visit their community pharmacist approximately twice as frequently as they visit primary care physicians.
• Pharmacists are Often the Only Qualified Health Care Provider for Rural Americans. Rural Americans, especially those who live in areas where there have been nearly 200 rural hospital closures since 2005, often rely on pharmacists as the only qualified health care provider in their community.
• Pharmacists Help Keep Seniors, Particularly Those Living in Rural & Other Underserved Communities, Healthy. More than half of pharmacists (55%) work in a community-based setting and 77% of community pharmacies serve populations of 50,000 or fewer.

While Americans with private insurance, Medicaid beneficiaries, and federal employees may be covered, Congress must act to ensure access to essential pharmacist services for Medicare beneficiaries.

About the Future of Pharmacy Care Coalition

The Future of Pharmacy Care Coalition is a group representing pharmacists and community pharmacies of all sizes serving millions of patients daily across the United States. Coalition members supporting the legislation include Abbott, American Pharmacists Association (APhA), American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), Cardinal Health, Cencora, CVS Health, Good Neighbor Pharmacy, Health Mart, Kroger, McKesson, Medicine Shoppe, National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), Walgreens, and Walmart.

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