Estimating the Cost of the Medicare Pharmacist Services Coverage Act of 2001

Abstract

Recognition of pharmacists as providers of selected drug therapy management services under Medicare will have a considerable financial impact. It is instructive, however, to view the 10-year cost estimate of 13 billion dollars for pharmaceutical therapy management in light of the CBO's projected 1.5 trillion dollars estimate, over the same time frame, for drug spending among the Medicare population.

Past, present, and continued need for provider status legislation: Navigating clinical practice with significant sustainability barriers

“…In 2002, the Pharmacy Provider Coalition was formed to advocate for pharmacists to receive recognition and payment for their services provided to Medicare Part B members . It consisted of several organizations, including the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, ACCP, APhA, American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, ASHP, and the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists . Despite incremental progress in establishing the role of pharmacists, the profession experienced a considerable setback in 2004 when Congress rejected the Medical Clinical Pharmacists Practitioner Services Coverage Act.…”

The Pharmacist's Duty to Warn

“…70 Congress attempted to enact legislation to recognize pharmacists as providers for selected drug therapy management services through the Medicare Pharmacist Services Coverage Act of 2001, although it failed to pass the 107th Congress. 71 The estimated costs for this Act would have totaled approximately $13 billion over a 10 year period, while the projected Congressional Budget Office's 10 year spending plan for Medicare medication expenditures was $1.5 trillion. 72 Despite how massive these costs appear, they pale in comparison with the costs to Americans of not imposing a duty to warn on pharmacists.…”