The pharmacists of America made their first stand for provider status today on Capitol Hill. Like the American colonists who fought the Battle of Bunker Hill, the outcome may not have been what we wanted, but we let the United States Congress know that pharmacists are ready to perform as providers of patient care services! Today we stood up and said, "We've only just begun."

Just getting pharmacists as providers mentioned at the Congressional level, let alone introduced into the amendment record, is a significant accomplishment. While the proposed amendment to the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) bill was not introduced or approved, we can officially say that our effort towards provider status is on. It will likely take a prolonged effort, given the atmosphere in Washington, and we’re here for the long haul.

The Senate Finance Committee was to consider an amendment that sought to add pharmacists to the list of recognized providers in the accountable care organizations (ACOs) now emerging as major delivery models in our health care system. Unfortunately, there were over 140 amendments to be considered. Most, including this amendment, were withdrawn or not introduced, when the sustainable growth rate (SGR – "doc fix") bill went to vote. The mention of pharmacists in the amendment record gives us hope for future discussions as we continue an ongoing national debate around fixes to our health care system.

We know that our patients need our services, and we need provider status to be in a position to help. For that to happen, we need to continue sending that message to our Members of Congress. ACOs engage pharmacists as part of these team-based care models and encourage the provision of patient care services by pharmacists, including:

• Medication management and medication check-ups
• Transitions of care and medication reconciliation services
• Medication access management
• Chronic condition management and counseling
• Prevention services, such as medication education and check-ups, immunizations and screening assessments.

Pharmacists are an integral member on every health care team and should be recognized as such. We are confident that today’s action places provider status on the table as an issue for future health care debates. We look forward to working with our teammates and stakeholders as we continue our work with them and other leaders in Congress to improve patient access to pharmacists as providers of patient care services.

The proposed Grassley-Carper Amendment can be viewed on Page 84 of the Amendments to an Original Bill to Repeal the Sustainable Growth Rate System and Medicare Beneficiary Access Improvement Act of 2013. In addition, two other amendments involving pharmacists (Carper/Grassley - Increasing Patient Medication Education and Adherence Roberts/Casey - Expansion of MTM targeted beneficiary) were withdrawn with a commitment for further discussion and evaluation, but can be viewed on pages 58 and 98, respectively.

We thank Iowa’s Senator Grassley and Delaware’s Senator Carper for working in bipartisan cooperation, and our Government Affairs staff for its work with the Senate to move our profession forward. As I wrote in an earlier blog, Senators Grassley and Carper recognize the unique and valuable services pharmacists provide each and every day in all cities, towns, and hamlets across our country, and we know they will continue to be our partners as the provider status effort continues.