Senate Committee Hears Payment Parity Bill after Passing House

TPA President Mark Comfort and CEO Debbie Garza testified Thursday, May 2, before the Senate Business and Commerce Committee in support of HB 3441, concerning pharmacist payment for services (pay parity). The bill would allow payment for pharmacist-provided services if those services are within pharmacist’s scope of practice and other providers are paid for providing the same service. Such services provided by pharmacists include comprehensive medication management; administering CLIA-waived tests like those for flu, or cholesterol and blood glucose testing; chronic disease management, like diabetes self-management, and other patient education programs.

“I believe this bill provides a critical opportunity for pharmacists to impact the healthcare system, to help drive down healthcare costs, and also improve healthcare outcomes,” Comfort said, noting that pharmacists are often the most accessible point of contact after normal business hours and can provide such services when physician offices are closed. (Read the full testimony from Comfort and Garza online.)

Pharmacy thanks Rep. Eddie Lucio III, chairman of the House Insurance Committee, for sponsoring this legislation and for his leadership passing this bill out of the House of Representatives this week, along with Sen. Charles Schwertner, the only pharmacist in the Texas Legislature, for sponsoring a companion bill (SB 2284) in the Senate. Senate Business and Commerce Committee Chair Kelly Hancock noted that there is no opposition to the bill in the committee at this time.

TPA President Mark Comfort and CEO Debbie Garza testify in support of HB 3441.