Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services (ECAPS) Act

Topic(s):

Legislation & Regulation

Since the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration ended in 2023, millions of Americans have lost or are at risk of losing access to essential care services administered by their local pharmacists, such as testing, vaccination, and common disease treatments.

In fact, community pharmacists are often the most accessible health care professionals for seniors and Americans living in rural areas. Nearly 90% of the U.S. population resides within 5 miles of a community pharmacy.

The Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services (ECAPS) Act of 2025 (H.R. 3164) is an important bipartisan bill that will extend certain COVID-era provisions that have been a critical lifeline for millions of patients, if signed into law. It helps ensure patients across the country maintain reliable access to testing and treatment for COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the flu, and potential future threats to public health.

It would also establish coverage and reimbursement under Medicare Part B to enable and empower pharmacists to perform vital services in their communities for beneficiaries of these programs.

Patients increasingly rely on pharmacists as their first point of care. This is especially true in rural areas, where 77 percent of community pharmacies serve populations of 50,000 or fewer, making pharmacists an essential care provider to medically underserved communities.
Pharmacy administered vaccines can proactively prevent diseases like measles that would otherwise be expensive to treat after the fact.
Managed care pharmacies and community pharmacies can collaborate to improve patient care and outcomes by leveraging each other's strengths in areas like vaccine education, adherence, and access to care.

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Take Action

Urge Congress to pass the Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services (ECAPS) Act of 2025 (H.R. 3164) to permanently allow COVID-era expansion of pharmacy patient care services, like vaccine administration, across the country.

Priority Issue January 19, 2025

Prescription Digital Therapeutics (PDTs Act)

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Prescription Digital Therapeutics, Legislation & Regulation

Priority Issue January 19, 2025

Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Implementation

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Legislation & Regulation

Priority Issue January 19, 2025

Medicaid VBPs for Patients Act (MVP Act)

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Legislation & Regulation, Medicaid Managed Care