Another Step Forward In Ensuring Pharmacy Choice For TRICARE Beneficiaries

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Also Included In: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 26 Mar 2009 - 6:00 PDT

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The release of the final regulation by the Department of Defense (DoD) on Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) pricing for TRICARE prescriptions dispensed by retail pharmacies was applauded by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) and the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA).

NACDS and NCPA lauded the step in the ongoing, multi-year effort to ensure that TRICARE beneficiaries have the ability to choose where tåhey access their prescription medications and other pharmacy services. The rule will allow DoD to obtain pricing discounts for retail prescriptions, and is estimated to provide over $12.6 billion in savings for the TRICARE pharmacy program in fiscal years 2010-2015. The final rule reflects the proposed rule in that it requires preauthorization before TRICARE beneficiaries can obtain nonformulary drugs from retail pharmacies. Both associations argued that the preauthorization requirement in the proposed rule be extended to the mail order program as well as the retail network.

"Our nation's brave men and women in the armed forces and their families deserve a choice when it comes to healthcare services," said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE and NCPA CEO and Executive Vice President Bruce Roberts, R.Ph. "In addition to their convenience and accessibility, through personal interaction with beneficiaries, retail pharmacists can help to increase medication compliance, resulting in overall better health outcomes for patients and a potential reduction in spending in other parts of the TRICARE program.

"NACDS and NCPA will continue to work with DoD to structure a preauthorization program that is not overly burdensome to TRICARE beneficiaries or pharmacies, and continue to advocate for an extension of the current freeze on increases to TRICARE retail pharmacy co-payments," said Anderson and Roberts.

Source
National Association of Chain Drug Stores

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