Introduction of ECAPS Act Prompts Nationwide Call to Action From Pharmacists Aimed at Congress

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A bipartisan bill aimed at preserving access to critical pharmacy services nationwide was introduced by a broad coalition of lawmakers.1 The Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services (ECAPS) Act of 2025 (H.R. 3164) seeks to ensure continued access to pharmacist-administered testing and treatment for conditions such as COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), as well as preparedness for future public health threats.

The coalition included representatives from both sides of the aisle: Adrian Smith (R, Nebraska), Brad Schneider (D, Illinois), Larry Bucshon, MD (R-Indiana), Doris Matsui (D-California), Brian Fitzpatrick (R, Pennsylvania), Scott Peters (D, California), Buddy Carter (R, Georgia), Gus Bilirakis (R, Florida), Earl Blumenauer (D, Oregon), Diana Harshbarger (R, Tennessee), and Terri Sewell (D, Alabama).

The legislation's introduction was met promptly with support from pharmacist associations across the country. In a statement of endorsement from the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP), CEO Susan Cantrell, MHL, RPh, CAE, emphasized that passage of the ECAPS Act is critical to ensuring pharmacies can permanently provide reliable access to crucial services, particularly for underserved populations.

Nearly 90% of Americans live within 5 miles of a pharmacy, and in rural areas—where 77% of community pharmacies serve populations of 50,000 or fewer—pharmacists are often the most readily available health care providers. By establishing Medicare Part B coverage and reimbursement for pharmacist-provided services, the legislation would institutionalize key care delivery innovations first authorized during the pandemic.

“Pharmacies are the frontlines of delivery for a growing array of health care services in America today, especially for vulnerable patient populations like seniors and rural communities,” Cantrell stated. “Yet, with the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration in 2023, millions of Americans now have lost or are at risk of losing access to essential care services administered by their local pharmacists.”

If enacted, the ECAPS Act would codify pharmacists’ ability to continue providing essential services that have proven crucial in public health responses, particularly for those who face geographic or economic barriers to care.

AMCP is not the only group that called on Congress for its passage. Nearly 50 hospitals, health systems, and pharmacy groups backed the bill as a necessary step toward strengthening community health infrastructure and ensuring equitable access to treatment and prevention.2

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) provided a link for its members to write to their members of Congress and ask them to support the legislation.

“ASHP strongly supports the Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act,” Tom Kraus, vice president of government relations, ASHP, said in the statement. “ECAPS will enable Medicare beneficiaries to obtain testing and treatment for common infectious diseases from their pharmacists and recognizes the critical role pharmacists play as care providers for America’s seniors.”

References

1. AMCP Applauds Introduction of the Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services (ECAPS) Act. News release. AMCP. May 5, 2025. https://www.amcp.org/press-releases/amcp-applauds-introduction-ensuring-community-access-pharmacist-services-ecaps-act

2. Congress Reintroduces Legislation Ensuring Patient Access to Pharmacists’ Services. News release. ASHP. May 5, 2025. https://news.ashp.org/News/ashp-news/2025/05/05/congress-reintroduces-legislation-ensuring-patient-access-to-pharmacists-services