I am writing to express strong support for Assembly Bill 2571, which expands health care access to pharmacist-provided Medication Therapy Management (MTM) services under Medi-Cal and health care service plans, regardless of whether those services are delivered in a traditional pharmacy setting.

Pharmacists are among the most accessible healthcare providers for many Californians, especially in low-income, rural, and medically underserved communities. Yet under current law, pharmacists can only be reimbursed for MTM services if those services are tied to a licensed pharmacy—an outdated restriction that limits care options and fails to reflect the realities of modern healthcare delivery, including mobile clinics, telehealth, and integrated care teams.

As California faces a growing number of “pharmacy deserts” due to widespread retail pharmacy closures, AB 2571 provides a practical solution to maintain essential care services. By allowing individual pharmacists to be reimbursed directly for their services without the restriction on the locations of thoses services.  The bill builds on the foundation of laws that recognizes and empowers pharmacists as essential health care providers for the citizens of California.

AB 2571 will help close health equity gaps, reduce hospitalizations, and improve medication adherence for Medi-Cal beneficiaries. Most importantly, it ensures that communities continue to have access to critical, pharmacist-led care—even when a brick-and-mortar pharmacy is no longer present.

Thank you for leading on this important legislation to ensure equal access to essential care.