Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act

Where This Stands

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Signed

Currently IN_COMMITTEE. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

This legislation would change how Medicare beneficiaries in underserved regions access care by allowing them to receive and seek reimbursement for services from pharmacists that were previously only covered when performed by physicians.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Medicare beneficiaries

They gain access to Medicare-covered services provided by pharmacists in specific underserved areas.

Pharmacists

They become eligible to be reimbursed by Medicare for services provided in designated underserved areas.

What changed

Current stage: IN_COMMITTEE.

What's next

Floor Vote.

Summary

This bill expands Medicare coverage to include services provided by pharmacists in s or s. It establishes a payment structure for these services, setting reimbursement rates at 80 percent of the lesser of the actual charge or 85 percent of the .

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What services can a pharmacist provide under this bill?

Pharmacists can provide services that they are legally authorized to perform under state law, provided those services would normally be covered by Medicare if performed by a physician.

Where must the pharmacist be located to qualify for this coverage?

The services must be provided in a designated , a , or for a medically underserved population.

How much will Medicare pay for these services?

Medicare will pay 80 percent of the lesser of the actual charge or 85 percent of the standard amount.

Why It Matters

This legislation would change how Medicare beneficiaries in underserved regions access care by allowing them to receive and seek reimbursement for services from pharmacists that were previously only covered when performed by physicians.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Expansion of Medicare Provider Scope

The bill represents a shift toward integrating pharmacists into the primary care reimbursement model for underserved populations.

Social Security Act Department of Health and Human Services

Connected Entities

bill_numberH.R. 9365“The number of the introduced bill”Map →

organizationCommittee on Energy and Commerce“Referred to for consideration”Map →

organizationCommittee on Ways and Means“Referred to for consideration”Map →

organizationSecretary of Health and Human Services“Responsible for developing pharmacist specific codes”Map →

personMr. Davis of North Carolina“Introduced the bill”Map →

dateJanuary 1, 2024“When the amendments will apply”Map →

personMr. Nunn of Iowa“Co-sponsored the bill”Map →

dateAugust 16, 2024“When the bill was introduced”Map →

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance75
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy20
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz30
Current news / social attention level