King Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Help Reduce Prescription Drug Costs for Servicemembers, Veterans During National Health Emergencies

Press Release

U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) is cosponsoring the TRICARE Prescription Relief Act, legislation that would authorize the Secretary of Defense to waive prescription cost-sharing requirements for military servicemembers, veterans, and their families during a declared national or public health emergency. The proposal -- also supported by U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Krysten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Doug Jones (D-Ala.) -- would help to reduce the financial burden for TRICARE beneficiaries unable to access military treatment facility (MTF) pharmacies. Under current law, TRICARE beneficiaries (including uniformed service members, retirees, and their families) do not pay a co-pay for prescriptions from pharmacies at military treatment facilities.

"Our servicemembers and veterans, along with their families, have committed themselves to ensuring the security of our nation. They've earned their healthcare benefits through sweat and sacrifice, and it's our responsibility to make sure their care is of the highest quality," said Senator King. "But right now, too many of them are being forced to pay for prescriptions out of pocket during a global pandemic because they may have difficulty accessing a military treatment facility. During health crises like this, especially when we're encouraging Americans to stay close to home, it's more important than ever to make sure we're honoring the service of America's military. Let's ensure that they get the benefit they've earned, regardless of where they fill a prescription."

Currently, cost-sharing requirements range from $13 to $60 for TRICARE beneficiaries when they obtain their prescriptions either through a mail-order service or at a retail pharmacy. During national emergencies, such as the current coronavirus pandemic or natural disasters, beneficiaries may have difficulty accessing the MTF and are forced to either pay a co-pay or forego their prescriptions. Co-pay flexibility allows TRICARE beneficiaries to practice safe social distancing while also streamlining a process that could mean longer wait times and potential supply shortages at MTFs.

The legislation would authorize the Secretary of Defense to waive cost-sharing requirements after considering whether the waiver would increase affordability of alternatives to MTF pharmacies, promote prescription adherence by beneficiaries, or facilitate the government response to a covered emergency. The Secretary could invoke a waiver during any national emergency, including public health emergencies declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, or those invoked by the President under the National Emergencies Act and the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.

Senator King has worked to make sure veterans receive the highest quality of care during the coronavirus crisis, and joined 16 of his colleagues in May to urge the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ramp up coronavirus testing at VA facilities nationwide and establish a framework for a large-scale strategy for national testing. He has also joined the Maine delegation to urge the VA to prioritize providing additional testing kits and PPE to the VA Maine Healthcare System, and pushed the VA to improve telehealth services during the pandemic. In April, he successfully urged the Treasury Department to ensure that recipients of benefits through the VA will receive their CARES Act stimulus payment with no additional action required.

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