Recent congressional action related to H.R. 3164, the Main Street Pharmacy Access Act—formerly referred to as the Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act (ECAPS)—provides encouraging evidence that Congress increasingly understands and recognizes the importance of integrating pharmacists into collaborative care structures to ensure optimal patient outcomes.

With the House Ways and Means Committee advancing H.R. 3164—an unprecedented step forward for the community pharmacy—here’s how ACCP has been working with its colleagues in pharmacy and medicine to help increase patient access to team-based pharmacists’ services.

Capitol Hill Strategy

Throughout 2026, working both independently and as part of multiorganizational coalitions, ACCP has been holding meetings with staff who serve on the legislative committees with jurisdiction over Medicare in key offices on Capitol Hill:

• Senate Finance Committee
• House Energy and Commerce Committee
• House Ways and Means Committee

As part of this legislative strategy, ACCP has specifically targeted the GOP Doctors Caucus, an informal congressional body of Republican members of Congress with medical and health care provider backgrounds dedicated to patient-centered health care policy. These medical professionals in Congress work to develop patient-centered, patient-driven health care reforms focused on quality, access, affordability, portability, and choice. Targeting these offices provides ACCP with a forum to respond to questions about the American Medical Association (AMA) “scope creep” advocacy campaign. Highlighting the Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process and the ACCP Standards of Practice for Clinical Pharmacists, ACCP’s team in Washington, DC, believes there is an opportunity to enhance the College’s collaborative advocacy work with medical societies, including the AMA.

ACCP and ECAPS/Main Street Pharmacy Access Act

The College’s advocacy success depends on helping policymakers understand the unique value that clinical pharmacists bring to patient care teams. As the ECAPS/Main Street Pharmacy Access Act now moves through the House of Representatives from the Ways and Means Committee to the Energy and Commerce Committee, ACCP will actively be lobbying with its pharmacy colleague organizations to support Medicare coverage for these collaborative, team-based services delivered in community pharmacies.

ACCP-PAC Supports the College’s Advocacy Communications

ACCP-PAC is the only federal political action committee dedicated specifically to advancing the practice of clinical pharmacists and the care of their patients. ACCP-PAC is nonpartisan and supports candidates based on their alignment with ACCP’s mission to advance the profession and improve human health as well as their demonstrated leadership on issues important to ACCP members, such as protecting Medicare funding for pharmacy residencies. Click here to learn more about ACCP-PAC.

ACCP-PAC is the only means by which ACCP can provide financial support to help candidates for Congress who understand and support the College’s issues and share its vision of a team-based, patient-centered, quality-driven approach to health care delivery.

ACCP-PAC is a nonpartisan, member-driven initiative, and all decisions regarding financial contributions to candidates are made by the PAC Governing Council according to certain established criteria:

• Position on key health care committees in Congress
• Proven support for pharmacy and health care–related issues
• Previous health care experience

ACCP members who contribute to the PAC may recommend candidates to receive contributions. All PAC contributor recommendations will be considered; however, we may not accommodate all requests. The ACCP-PAC Governing Council must approve all candidate contributions.

For more information, visit the ACCP-PAC website at www.accpaction.org or contact John McGlew ([email protected]).