Table of Contents
WASHINGTON — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) sent a letter to the chairmen and ranking members of the House Armed Services Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee urging them to reject calls to increase retail community pharmacist co-payments, thereby protecting Tricare beneficiary access.
The letter referenced last year’s report from the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission that highlighted beneficiary choice and access and urged support for policies that maintain those aspects of the military health care system.
Co-pay increases are a financial burden on beneficiaries and restrict patient access, asserted the letter, which pointed out that increased co-pays and restricted patient access “can have the unintended effect of reducing medication adherence,” resulting in decreased health outcomes and more costly medical interventions, such as physician and emergency room visits and hospitalizations.”
