Pharmacists and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act in COVID-19 legislation
Ask to send a letter to your state's members of Congress, asking for Medicare reimbursement to be included in emergency legislation responding to COVID-19.
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The attached letter was sent to Leader McConnell, Leader Schumer, Senators Grassley, Brown, Collins and Casey earlier today. Since this will come to a vote this weekend, we ask that your State Affiliate either send the PDF letter to your state’s members of Congress stating that your organization supports this to be included in legislation
Pharmacists on the Front Lines of COVID-19 Patient Care: 
A Joint Call to Action

March 20, 2020

Dear Colleagues,
 
This morning, ASHP, together with national pharmacy and provider organizations, released a joint set of policy recommendations critical to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise dramatically and the supply of qualified healthcare providers becomes limited, pharmacists are at the front lines providing essential patient care services during this public health crisis. However, there is much more that pharmacists can do for their patients and ease the burden on the healthcare system if additional authorities are granted and barriers to access for pharmacist patient care services are removed. 

The joint recommendations set forth four policy areas that will empower pharmacists to fully and effectively support our nation's COVID-19 response and help ensure patients get the treatment they need. These policy areas address authorization to test, treat, and immunize; workforce and workflow issues; shortages and continuity of care; and reimbursement for services and removal of barriers. 
 
Together, the leading pharmacy organizations are urging the U.S. COVID-19 Task Force and appropriate agencies to adopt these and other recommended measures immediately.

These recommendations build on ASHP's federal and state white papers, including our recommendations for expanded scope of practice and payment for COVID-19 testing and treatment and family support for pharmacists and pharmacy personnel who need child or eldercare during the public health emergency. 

I encourage you to review the full rep ort and to share it broadly within your networks. ASHP and our partner organizations will circulate it to federal and state policymakers, as well as other clinician and public health groups working to protect and support healthcare personnel on the front lines of COVID-19 response. 

Thank you for everything you continue to do for your patients and the profession.
 
Sincerely,
  
Paul W. Abramowitz, Pharm.D., Sc.D., (Hon.), FASHP 
ASHP CEO  
to send a personal email to your own members of Congress asking for Medicare reimbursement to be included in emergency legislation responding to COVID-19.  

Kansas Council of Health-System Pharmacy (KCHP)
p: 314-416-2247 | f: 314-892-1891 | E: kchp@qabs.com | www.kchponline.com