ICHP Position Statement - The Pharmacist as a Healthcare Provider

The Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists (ICHP) supports the passage of provider status legislation recognizing pharmacists as healthcare providers under the Social Security Act and by health insurance carriers. Furthermore, ICHP recommends health systems create a process for credentialing and privileging of pharmacists to obtain provider status. (ASHP statement)

In the process of providing direct patient care, pharmacists provide medication-related care for the purpose of achieving definite and positive outcomes that improve a patient's quality of life. To accomplish this, pharmacists establish relationships with patients to ensure the appropriateness of medication therapy and patients' understanding of their therapy. In addition, pharmacists identify and help patients overcome barriers to adherence, assist in the coordination of medical care, and ensure the continuity of patient care. To optimize therapy, pharmacists monitor the effects of patients' medications and make recommendations and changes to medication therapy when appropriate.

Pharmacists participate in collaborative drug therapy management entering into agreements with physicians who authorize pharmacists to select appropriate medication therapies and adjust doses based on patient characteristics, diagnosis, and response to treatment.

Provider status would allow pharmacists to be reimbursed under the Medicare Part B benefit for providing cognitive services to patients covered under the program. The current Medicare Part D program reimburses pharmacies for pharmacists providing medication therapy management (MTM) to a select subset of patients. This program is however, limited and encompasses only a small set of the services pharmacists provide.

ICHP supports ASHP's position statement 1202 referring to prescribing authority for qualified pharmacists.

Historically, recognition as a healthcare provider under the Social Security Act has been inextricably tied to direct financial compensation for services delivered. Currently, the following providers are recognized in the Social Security Act: physicians, audiologists, certified nurse midwives, certified registered nurse practitioners, certified registered nurse anesthetists, physicians' assistance, licensed clinical psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, physical and occupational therapists, and registered dieticians/nutrition professional.

References:1202 ASHP prescriber statement

1.    Garrett, D. G., & Bluml, B. M. (2005). Patient self-management program for diabetes: first-year clinical, humanistic, and economic outcomes. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, 45(2), 130-137.Manolakis PG, Skelton JB (2010) Pharmacists' contributions to primary care in the United States collaborating to address unmet patient care needs: the emerging role for pharmacists to address the shortage of primary care providers. Am J PharEduc 74(10), doi:10.5688/aj7410S7, pmid:21436916. S7
2.    Riordan DO, Walsh KA, Galvin R, et al. (2016) The effect of pharmacist-led interventions in optimizing prescribing in older adults in primary care: a systematic review. SAGE Open Med 4:2050312116652568, doi:10.1177/2050312116652568, pmid:27354917.
3.    White, C. M. (2014). Pharmacists need recognition as providers to enhance patient care. Annals of Pharmacotherapy, 48(2), 268-273.
4.      Law, A. V., Qkamoto, M. P., & Brock, K. (2008). Perceptions of Medicare Part D enrollees about pharmacists and their role as providers of medication therapy management. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, 48(5), 648-e4.



Revised  3.2022