Community/Retail

Bipartisan legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate today would formally designate pharmacists as healthcare providers under Medicare Part B. Supported by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), the bill would amend The Social Security Act of 1935 to enable pharmacists to provide to Medicare patients in underserved communities services that pharmacists already are providing for other patients under state law.

The National Community Pharmacists Association has endorsed S. 314, The Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act, a bill introduced today by Sens. Chuck Grassley, Sherrod Brown, Mark Kirk and Bob Casey. It is designed to help seniors in medically underserved communities by allowing state-licensed pharmacists to offer and get compensated for an expanded scope of patient-care services under the Medicare Part B program. In response, NCPA CEO B. Douglas Hoey, RPh, MBA, issued the following statement:

Rite Aid announced today that associates in its corporate offices located throughout the greater Harrisburg area raised $590,524 during its 2014 fundraising campaign for the United Way of the Capital Region. Rite Aid has raised more than $7 million for the UWCR since becoming a supporter in 2002.

The American Psychological Association (APA) and four plaintiffs represented by the law firms of Tycko and Zavareei LLP and Wexler Wallace LLP have reached an agreement to settle their dispute about the American Psychological Association Practice Organization (APAPO) practice assessment.

Bipartisan legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives today would formally designate pharmacists as healthcare providers under Medicare Part B. Supported by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the bill would amend The Social Security Act of 1935 to enable pharmacists to provide to Medicare patients in underserved communities services that pharmacists already are providing for other patients under state law.

The National Community Pharmacists Association has endorsed H.R. 592, the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act, which was introduced by U.S. Reps. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.) , Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Ron Kind (D-Wis.). The bill permits state-licensed pharmacists in medically underserved communities to both provide and be reimbursed for an expanded scope of patient-care services under the Medicare Part B program. In response, NCPA CEO B. Douglas Hoey, RPh, MBA, issued the following statement:

Drug addiction is one thing, but diverting that poison onto the streets when pharmacists are told in no uncertain terms not to do so isn't looked upon so forgivingly.