MSHP Legislative Efforts
Bills Being Monitored
- H1313: An Act Relating to Patient Choice in Dispensing of Clinician-Administered Drug
- H1274: An Act prohibiting PBMs from discriminating against hospitals and patients participating in the 340B drug discount program
- S800: An Act Relative to Pharmacists as Healthcare Providers
- H4332: An Act Relative to Pharmacists as Healthcare Providers
Position Statements:
Pharmacist Provider Status
Background
Pharmacists have been providing essential patient care services, including:
- COVID-19 testing
- Patient counseling
- Administration of certain medications
- Medication management through Collaborative Practice Agreements (CPA)
In Massachusetts, pharmacists are recognized as healthcare providers, thanks to former Governor Charlie Baker’s 2021 legislation, “An Act promoting a resilient health care system that puts patients first.” This legislation recognizes pharmacists as the medication experts, an essential part of an interdisciplinary healthcare team, however, pharmacist services are not eligible for reimbursement. Pathways to allow pharmacists to bill and receive reimbursement for patient care services is an essential next step in preserving the role of pharmacists as one of the most accessible health care providers in our communities.
Current MSHP Work in This Area
- Educating stakeholders on pharmacists’ education, training, and scope of practice
- Highlighting the benefits of pharmacist-provided services, including their positive impact on patient care and healthcare cost reduction.
- Urging policymakers to require Medicaid and private payers to recognize pharmacists as providers and compensate them appropriately.
White Bagging
Background
“White bagging” refers to scenarios where payers mandate which pharmacies are permitted to dispense clinician-administered drugs. These policies restrict a patient’s ability to choose where to receive care and introduce unnecessary risk into the medication use process.
Concerns / Impact on Patient Care
The white bagging method is prone to breakdowns that can compromise patient safety. Potential issues with using external pharmacies include:
- Delayed delivery
- Lost medications
- Compromised medication integrity due to unknown preparation and storage conditions
- Difficulty making timely changes to treatment based on the patient’s clinical status
- Circumvention of the health system’s electronic health record, which typically includes built-in safety features and familiar workflows for providers
These issues can result in:
- Increased stress for patients, caregivers, and healthcare teams
- Delays in care
- Additional copays for unused medications (due to loss or therapy changes)
- Gaps in medical records and reduced continuity of care
For more information on the safety issues that White Bagging presents, check out this infographic from ASHP: White-Bagging-Infographic.pdf
Current MSHP Work in This Area
- Educating policymakers on the risks and patient care concerns associated with white bagging
- Recommending that policymakers prohibit insurers and PBMs from mandating white bagging practices and from interfering with a patient’s right to choose to obtain a clinician-administered drug from their provider or pharmacy of choice
340B Drug Discount Protections
Background
The 340B program is a federally sponsored program that involves drug manufacturers selling outpatient drugs to covered entities at reduced prices. Covered entities are hospitals, clinics, and health centers that serve a certain proportion of vulnerable patient populations (i.e. low income, uninsured, or underinsured patients). The intention of this program is to enable these covered entities to use the savings from reduced drug acquisition costs to reinvest in sustainable services for vulnerable populations, such as preventive care and screenings, educational programs, and transportation assistance.
Concerns / Impact on Patient Care
- Patients may be required to travel long distances to pick up 340B medications from specific contract pharmacies designated by manufacturers
- Safety-net hospitals, which are critical to many communities in Massachusetts, face financial strain—threatening the quality of care for underserved populations
Current MSHP Work in This Area
- Collaborating with policymakers to develop legislation that protects the original intent of the 340B program
- Advocating for continued protection of 340B drug pricing for covered entities, in order to protect these health systems’ ability to continue to provide care for underserved patient populations
Massachusetts Representatives to the House of Delegates
Russel Roberts PharmD
Term: 2023-2027
Jason Lancaster, PharmD, MEd, RPh, BCPS, FCCP
Term: 2024 – 2028
Erica Housman, PharmD, BCPS
Term: 2025 – 2029
Neil Gilchrist, PharmD, MBA, BCPS, DPLA
Term: 2026 – 2030
Alternate: Frankie Mernick, PharmD, BCPS
Term: 2026
ASHP House of Delegates
Additional Resources & Helpful Links
Explore Resources
Contact us:
National Resources:
Massachusetts Resources:
