S. 2477 · 118th Congress

Adds Medicare payment for pharmacist testing and treatment of flu, COVID-19 and more

Official title: Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act1

Never got a floor voteMedicare coverage of new tests and services

§1What it does

Why this matters: A plain-English description of the bill as it was voted on, written by us from the official summary and text.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

This bill would permanently add Medicare coverage for certain services provided by pharmacists, including related supplies.2,3 Covered services would include evaluating and managing patients for testing and treatment of COVID-19, flu, RSV and strep throat, and giving vaccines for pneumococcal disease, COVID-19, flu and hepatitis B.2,3 It would also generally cover pharmacist services during public health emergencies.2,3

§2Status

StatusLatest action, July 25, 2023: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.1
IntroducedJuly 25, 2023
SponsorSen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Cosponsors29 cosponsors (17 Democratic, 12 Republican)
Official recordS. 2477 on Congress.gov

§3It never got a vote

Why this matters: This bill had wide support from both parties, but it never reached the House or Senate floor, so no member of Congress was ever recorded voting for or against it.

Latest action, July 25, 2023: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.1 How bills die without a vote.

2026 candidates who sponsored or cosponsored it (9)