Lobbying Efforts for Medicare Coverage of Clinical Pharmacy Services

The American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) reported $144,981 in lobbying expenses for the second quarter of 2026, underscoring its efforts to influence federal pharmacy policies and enhance medication safety measures. According to ACCP's June advocacy newsletter, the organization is focused on advocating for Medicare coverage of clinical pharmacy services and safeguarding federal funding for pharmacy residency programs. John McGlew, ACCP’s senior director of government affairs, has been lobbying on pharmacy practice, Medicare and Medicaid, and health and medication safety to ensure regulatory compliance. Kathy Pham, a registered lobbyist for ACCP since 2019, is also concentrated on these critical issue areas. On March 26, ACCP's advocacy day on Capitol Hill aimed at securing congressional support for Medicare coverage of comprehensive clinical pharmacy services, as a component of broader Medicare payment reform. The efforts also addressed legislation like the Rebuilding America's Health Care Schools Act of 2025, advocating for federal training funding for healthcare education, including pharmacy residency programs. ACCP provided feedback to the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Health, following a hearing on the prescription drug supply chain. Their comments emphasized the value of medication therapy over just drug cost and supported the establishment of a defined clinical pharmacy benefit within Medicare. Moreover, ACCP is actively collaborating with the GOP Doctors Caucus and has engaged with the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, submitting relevant feedback. The second-quarter filing outlines a lobbying agenda concentrated on Medicare payment policy and pharmacy workforce funding, indicating the potential trajectory of their future advocacy efforts.