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ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and National Community Pharmacists Association are hailing a congressional bill that would prohibit hikes in retail pharmacy co-payments under TRICARE, the health benefits program for the nation’s armed forces.
NACDS and NCPA said Friday that this week they sent a letter to Rep. Walter Jones (R., N.C.) to express the industry’s support for the Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act (H.R. 1092). They explained that the legislation, introduced by Jones, would help safeguard TRICARE beneficiaries’ access to pharmacy-based health care services.
"We understand the burden of rising health costs and the need to control spending in the military health care system. However, we do not support efforts to modify pharmacy co-payments to further encourage the use of mail order," NACDS president and chief executive officer Steve Anderson and NCPA CEO B. Douglas Hoey stated in the letter.
NACDS and NCPA noted that they have long supported efforts to preserve access to pharmacy services for TRICARE beneficiaries and their families. The groups have also worked with Congress, the Department of Defense, and the administration to enhance pharmacy-based TRICARE services, such as expanding access to immunizations, which can help improve patient health and lower health care costs.
"We offer our assistance in developing policy options that control prescription drug spending, while at the same time allowing retail pharmacies the privilege of providing prescription drugs and services to our nation’s military personnel," the letter said.
