ASA Opposes Legislation to Expand Pharmacist Services

On July 24, ASA and other physician organizations formally opposed H.R. 3164, the Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act, in a letter to Congress. This legislation would inappropriately authorize pharmacists to perform services that are currently covered only when furnished by physicians.

H.R. 3164 seeks to allow pharmacists to provide Evaluation and Management (E/M) services for conditions such as influenza, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and streptococcal pharyngitis (strep throat). E/M services constitute the practice of medicine and fall well beyond the scope of pharmacists’ education, training, and skills posing a potential risk to patient safety.

Read the letter here.