AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HEALTH-SYSTEM PHARMACISTS

Issues related to FDA authority to manage drug shortages, regulation of pharmacy compounding, and implementation of the Drug Quality and Security Act. The PROTECT 340B Act (H.R. 2534) and the 340B Pharmaceutical Access to Invest in Essential, Needed Treatments & Support Act of 2024 (H.R. 7635), provisions related to enforcement of the 340B Drug Pricing Program. Issues related to pharmacy residency funding (generally, no specific legislation). Issues related to drug price negotiations and patient out-of-pocket costs (generally, no specific legislation). Issues related to authorization of technician product verification (generally, no specific legislation). The Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act (S. 2305), issues related to accelerating biosimilar adoption.

Issues related to drug pricing, drug shortages, drug importation plans, and the drug supply chain, including support for the following bills: Mapping Americas Pharmaceutical Supply (MAPS) Act (H.R. 6992), and the Pediatric Cancer Drug Supply Act of 2024 (H.R. 6963). Issues related to COVID-19 response and post-public health emergency recommendations, including telehealth and pharmacist provision of testing and vaccination (generally, no specific legislation). Issues related to combatting opioid addiction, including support for the following bills: the Fentanyl Safe Testing and Overdose Prevention Act (S. 2569) and the Test Strip Access Act of 2023 (H.R. 4106). Patient access to pharmacist provided vaccinations for COVID/flu/pediatric illnesses, COVID-19 testing, emergency HIV prophylaxis, initiation of oral antivirals for flu/COVID, buprenorphine, and other pharmacist services authorized under state law (generally, no specific legislation). Reauthorization of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act, including recommendations to leverage pharmacists as part of the care team. Patient access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare (generally, no specific legislation). Issues related to healthcare workforce shortages (generally, no specific legislation). The Lower Costs, More Transparency Act (H.R. 5378) and the Site-based Invoicing and Transparency Enhancement (SITE) Act (S. 1869), provisions related to site neutral payments. The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act (H.R. 7153/S. 3679), provisions related to supporting health workers mental health and well-being. Issues related to the Change Healthcare cyberattack, including communications with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services encouraging flexibility following the cyberattack (generally, no specific legislation).

The Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act (H.R. 1770/S. 2477) and the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act (S. 1491), provisions related to Medicare coverage for all PREP Act services and COVID-19 response recommendations, including Medicaid reimbursement for pharmacist provision of testing and vaccination. Issues related to telehealth reimbursement and virtual supervision flexibilities for pharmacist services with CMS (generally, no specific legislation). Issues related to continuation of Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) allowances (generally, no specific legislation).