WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) joined a bipartisan group of senators to introduce a bill that would help pharmacists serve older Americans in communities lacking easy access to doctors or where pharmacists are more convenient to visit for certain services than doctors.

“Seniors in rural and remote areas of Ohio are often forced to travel long distances to see their doctor for basic services when their pharmacist is around the corner,” Brown said. “This bill would improve access to routine screening and services where seniors live – improving care and saving taxpayer dollars.”

The Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act would allow pharmacists to offer health care services to Medicare beneficiaries in underserved areas – such as health and wellness screenings, immunizations, and diabetes management – by authorizing Medicare payments for those services where pharmacists are already licensed under state law to provide them. Most states already allow pharmacists to provide these services, though they cannot receive Medicare reimbursement for providing them.

                           

Joining Brown in backing the bill are U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Bob Casey (D-PA), and Mark Kirk (R-IL). A companion bill was introduced yesterday in the House of Representatives.

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