In their ongoing commitment to protect TRICARE beneficiary access to prescription medications, NACDS and the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) sent a letter this week urging the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) to refuse to further increase retail community pharmacist copayments.
…copay increases place financial burdens on TRICARE beneficiaries, restrict patient access and can also have the unintended consequence of reducing medication adherence.
As Congress considers the FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), NACDS and NCPA referenced last year’s Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission’s report, which highlighted the importance of beneficiary choice and access, and strongly recommended that Congress support policies that maintain those vital aspects of the military healthcare system.
The letter points out that copay increases place financial burdens on TRICARE beneficiaries, restrict patient access and can also have the unintended consequence of reducing medication adherence. Noting the Department of Defense’s policies to control spending, the letter asks the HASC and the SASC to enact changes that reduce TRICARE costs without negatively impacting patient health outcomes and access to services.
