| WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a victory for active duty and military retirees, the U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in favor of a measure today instructing conferees to include a provision in the Fiscal Year 2007 National Defense Authorization Bill that would require pharmaceutical companies to offer discounts on the TRICARE retail program as previously ordered in the 1992 Veterans Health Care Act. Congressman Berry (AR-1st) helped craft today’s Motion to Instruct based on a letter he and forty other Democrats sent to conferees last week in support of the provision.
“Requiring pharmaceutical companies to provide these discounts will generate tremendous savings and prevent the Department of Defense from being forced to raise co-payments for active duty and retired military personnel,” said Congressman Berry. “I am pleased to see my colleagues come together and oppose a longstanding practice that lines the pockets of the pharmaceutical industry by forcing our military heroes to pay extra for their prescription drugs.”
With prescription drug costs on the rise, the Department of Defense (DoD) is seeking ways to control spending in the TRICARE program. The agency has tried numerous times to enforce a provision in the 1992 Veterans Health Care Act which requires pharmaceutical companies to give DoD discounts on prescription drugs. Despite these repeated efforts, pharmaceutical companies refuse to grant discounts for the TRICARE retail program like they do for drugs dispensed through the mail order program.
The Senate version of the National Defense Authorization bill would clarify the 1992 provision, forcing pharmaceutical companies to extend discounts to the TRICARE retail program. This would lower costs and eliminate the need for a provision in the House bill to increase retail co-payments for TRICARE beneficiaries.
“Today’s vote was nothing more than common sense. Congress should do everything in its power to ensure taxpayers get a good deal and honor its obligation to provide our military retirees with the best health care it can provide,” said Congressman Berry. “We have the perfect opportunity now to resolve an issue that should have been taken care of a long time ago.”
Conference negotiations will soon begin for the Fiscal Year 2007 Defense Authorization Bill. The Military Officers Association of America is also working to secure this discount on retail drugs for TRICARE beneficiaries. |
