S. 314 updates Medicare Part B to include pharmacists as providers, allowing them to be reimbursed through the physician fee schedule for services. This expands access to pharmaceutical care in underserved communities. The bill received bipartisan support from senators and complements H.R. 592, which extends disaster relief to nonprofit organizations.

1. Pharmacists Gain Recognition as
Providers under S. 314
By Travis Leonardi

2. Introduction
• An alumnus of St. Johns University, Travis Leonardi
serves as chief executive officer of Sentry Data Systems,
Inc., where he oversees health care business technology
solutions. Travis Leonardi also maintains membership in
the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.
In January of 2015, the American Society of Health-
System Pharmacists released a statement in regard to
the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas
Enhancement Act (S. 314). Under Medicare Part B of the
Social Security Act, S. 314 updates the section to include
pharmacists as providers, which improves
pharmaceutical care access in medically underserved
communities.

3. Pharmacists
• The act also offers a payment avenue for
pharmacists to be compensated through the existing
physician fee schedule.
The bill received support by Republican senators
Mark Kirk of Illinois and Charles Grassley of Iowa as
well as Democratic senators Sherrod Brown of Ohio
and Robert Casey of Pennsylvania. S. 314
complements H.R. 592, the Federal Disaster
Assistance Nonprofit Fairness Act of 2013. H.R. 592
extends emergency assistance and disaster relief to
private nonprofit facilities, places of worship, and
community centers.