Commentary
Video
Susan Cantrell, RPh, MHL, CAE, highlights the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacy Services (ECAPS) Act as the top federal priority to preserve pharmacists’ authority in testing, treatment, and immunization services.
In an interview with Pharmacy Times®, Susan Cantrell, RPh, MHL, CAE, CEO of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, described the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacy Services (ECAPS) Act as critical legislation to preserve patients’ access to pharmacist-provided care following the expiration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Cantrell noted that millions risk losing essential services such as testing, vaccination, and treatment for communicable diseases, and that ECAPS would ensure reimbursement and sustainability for these services under Medicare Part B. Cantrell emphasized that while some states have expanded scope of practice, ECAPS remains the most pressing federal priority, with pharmacy organizations united in their advocacy for its passage.
Pharmacy Times: Can you explain why the ECAPS Act is critical for pharmacists to continue providing essential care, such as testing and treatment for illnesses like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and the flu?
Susan Cantrell, RPh, MHL, CAE: The ECAPS Act—Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services—is critical legislation currently before Congress. Since the COVID-19 public health emergency ended in 2023, millions of Americans have either lost or are at risk of losing access to essential pharmacist-provided services, such as testing, vaccination, and treatment for communicable diseases.
If passed, ECAPS would have a profoundly positive impact on public health. Pharmacists are a vital part of the healthcare infrastructure, and their ability to test, treat, and immunize patients for conditions like influenza, strep, RSV, and COVID-19 is essential to closing care gaps. The bill would also establish Medicare Part B coverage and reimbursement for pharmacists, ensuring sustainability for these services.
Pharmacy Times: Beyond the ECAPS Act, what other policy or legislative changes would empower pharmacists to better serve as frontline providers in public health crises?
Cantrell: ECAPS is the top federal legislative priority because it restores pharmacist authority lost after the public health emergency ended. While some states have expanded pharmacists’ scope of practice, at the federal level, ECAPS is the most pressing issue. National pharmacy associations are united in advocating for its passage, educating policymakers, and highlighting how this legislation supports both patient access and public health.
Stay informed on drug updates, treatment guidelines, and pharmacy practice trends—subscribe to Pharmacy Times for weekly clinical insights.
