Is now our time? History to provider status for allied health professions and the path for pharmacists

The designation of health care providers is limited to physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, clinical psychologists, dietitians, and social workers. Pharmacists are not federally recognized health care providers and, therefore, are not eligible for cognitive service reimbursements. This commentary explains the intentions of adding pharmacists as Medicare Part B providers, evaluates current state pharmacist provider status, and calls pharmacists, technicians, and other key stakeholders to advocate on behalf of the profession of pharmacy. If federal provider status is granted to pharmacists, patients will gain better access to care, health spending will decline, and physician lead care teams will have an expert in medications readily available for consultation or other medication-related needs. Reimbursement would provide more resources to administer these needed services to more patients in areas with limited access to health care resources.