ISMA has signed a second letter regarding pharmacists and scope creep. 

ISMA had previously joined other state associations and physician organizations in signing a letter from the AMA Federation of Medicine to Representatives Adrian Smith (R-Nebraska) and Brad Schneider (D-Illinois) in opposition to H.R. 3164, the “Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services (ECAPS) Act. On July 24, the same week that letter was sent, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) and Senator Mark Warner (D-Virginia) introduced an identical bill in the Senate, S. 2426, the “Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act (ECAPS) Act.”

The Federation's latest letter, to be sent to Sens. Thune and Warner, points out the bill has numerous shortcomings, including inappropriately allowing pharmacists to perform services that would normally only be authorized and covered if they were furnished by a physician, including testing and treating patients for certain illnesses. The bill would also expand Medicare payment for pharmacists in limited but significant ways.