Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act
Key claim: A Senate bill would make Medicare permanently cover pharmacists testing and treating COVID-19, flu, RSV, strep throat, and other conditions during a declared public health emergency, if state law allows it.
Abstract
(S2426 · 119th Congress) Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act This bill provides for permanent coverage under Medicare of certain pharmacist services. Specifically, the bill provides for permanent coverage of testing and treatment services provided by pharmacists relating to (1) COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and streptococcal pharyngitis (strep throat); and (2) other public health needs in relation to a declared public health emergency. (Similar authorities were temporarily granted during the COVID-19 public health emergency.) Such services must be provided in accordance with the applicable state laws governing pharmacists’ scope of practice. Latest action (2025-07-24): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S4701)
Why this matters
Medicare does not currently recognize pharmacists as billable providers for most clinical services, so pharmacist testing and treatment during COVID-era public health emergencies has depended on temporary PREP Act authorities. This bill would create a permanent Medicare payment pathway for a narrow set of infectious disease services, changing what beneficiaries can access at a pharmacy counter and how pharmacists fit into the federally-reimbursed care delivery workforce, though the change would remain gated by state scope-of-practice law and a declared PHE.