HOUSE BILL 5780
Support Page
http://www.phpr.purdue.edu/~hooktv/asthma/
Last Updated 05-13-08
The purpose of this page is to provide support for legislation before the 110th Congress, House Bill 5780, perhaps the most important
bill impacting Pharmacy since Title 19 created Medicaid and third party payment for prescriptions. House Bill 5780 would allow pharmacists
to bill Medicare as mid-level providers when providing care to Medicare patients.
Talking Points: To Pharmacists->click HERE To Pharmacy Students->click HERE to Politicians->click HERE
A duplicate page from the New Mexico Pharmacist Association that includes material describing that state's Pharmacist Clinician Click HERE
To get the straight dope on the status of Representative Wilson's Bill, visit the Library of Congress "Thomas" web page
by clicking HERE
The full text of the bill can be read by clicking HERE
To download a MS-word file with a suggested letter you can send to your federal Representative to
urge them to support this bill, click HERE
Aren't sure who your Representative is?
Click HERE to go to the U.S. National Atlas web-page.
CLick on "110th Congressional Districts" under the heading "Boundaries" on the right side of the page.
Click on the map until you know you are looking at the area of your legal residence (the map will zoom in each time you left click)
Left click the small button on the top of the map that says "Identify"
Now click on the area of your residence again.
A list of your Senators and Representative will appear in a pop-up labeled "Identify Results"
If you click on your Representatives name, you will go to the Representatives
own web-page where you can get a mail address and/or e-mail address or even phone number.
(given time, we hope to post all this info in a list for you)
Just want to copy and paste the text?
Here it is:
Dear Representative XXXXXXX;
I am writing you to ask you to support House Bill 5780. The bill is sponsored by Congresswoman Heather Wilson (R-NM). This resolution will give pharmacists, who are working with a physician to deliver patient care, the ability to bill Medicare Part B for services as a mid-level provider. The pharmacists must have collaborative practice agreements and comply with requirements set by their own state pharmacy board.
Given the aging of our population, the increasing cost of healthcare and provider shortages, this is crucial legislation for America's future. An increasingly larger percentage of the US population are seniors, and the medications they take and how they take them is getting more complicated.
At the same time, many of our "baby boomer" primary care physicians are
retiring and few current medical students are choosing to enter into primary care careers. There is a growing gap between the health care people (especially older people) need, and the number of doctors who can provide that care. And this problem gets even worse in our rural areas.
In a time of growing stress on the health care system, pharmacists remain the most accessible and under utilized health care professional. Pharmacists are very well equipped to help fill the gap created by the dwindling number of medical providers.
House Bill 5780 allows pharmacists, who have met state-determined requirements and who are engaged in a collaborative form of practice with a physician, to bill Medicare part B for their services. Pharmacists want to provide care to their patients. Physicians want help with the workload. Most importantly, patients want more time with their pharmacist, and the best care possible from the health care system.
House Bill 5780 provides the mechanism by which this can occur. It provides an affordable and necessary funding mechanism to allow states, where additional providers are needed, to put pharmacists in a position to help patients have healthy, productive and longer lives.
This is a law that is truly positive for health care in our state and our country. As one of your constituents, I urge you to support this resolution. I want the option of being able to see my pharmacist for care in my golden years!
Sincerely-
Joe Citizen
QUESTIONS? E-Mail Matthew Murawski, R.Ph.,
Ph.D.