Pharmacy and Wellness Review
Article Title
Abstract
In order to receive payment for medical services through Medicare Part 8, health care professionals must be identified as "providers" under the Social Security Act. Pharmacists currently are not included in the list of providers and, therefore, cannot provide many services to patients. Through their extensive education and training, accessibility and immense trust in their profession, pharmacists are the ideal health care professionals to help expand the continuity of care of our nation's patients. On Jan. 1, 2014, Senate Bill 493 was passed into law recognizing pharmacists in the state of California as providers. With this new legislation, the pharmacists' role in health care, as well as the patient's access to care, will be greatly expanded nationally. It is important for pharmacists and students to advocate at the state and federal level to expand provider status to all states in order to advance the profession of pharmacy.