Military Officer - October 2006 - (Page 32) washingtonscene What Issues Are Important To You? ■ MOAA recently mailed a survey to a representative sample of members asking them to rate the importance of various legislative initiatives affecting military people. But we’re always looking for more input. If you have a few minutes to help MOAA shape next year’s agenda, please visit MOAA’s Web site at www.moaa.org/legisint erestsurvey. TMOP Rx Deal Getting Sweeter How far should Congress push mail-order pharmacy? T RICARE’s Mail Order Pharmacy (TMOP) is getting close attention on Capitol Hill, and military beneficiaries would do well to pay attention too. Each prescription dispensed through the mail-order system saves the Pentagon an average of $150 dollars. And beneficiaries who use TMOP save 67 percent, because they get a three-month supply of medication for the same copayment that buys only one month’s supply from a retail pharmacy. But only 6 percent of prescriptions are now filled by mail-order, and the most rapid growth is in the retail system — the most expensive option for the government and beneficiaries alike. MOAA thinks there are several reasons for underutilization of the TMOP, including a lack of publicity about it by DoD and beneficiaries’ reluctance to change what has worked for them in the past, even if changing would save them money. Some might have had a bad experience with TRICARE’s earlier mail-order program or worry that it won’t work for their medications. But most recent MOAA users report positive experience with TMOP. The cost difference between the retail and mail-order systems is a big deal for the government, and Congress is determined to do all it can to encourage use of the much cheaper mail-order program. One way is to significantly sweeten the program for beneficiaries. At MOAA’s urging, both the House and the Senate put provisions in the FY 2007 Defense Authorization Bill that will eliminate any copayment for most drugs obtained by mail. That should make using the mail-order system very attractive for most people who use long-term maintenance medications. Why pay a copayment or drive to a military installation if you can get refills delivered right to your doorstep — for free? But some in Congress aren’t convinced that voluntary incentives will generate enough migration to TMOP. So the Senate also passed a provision that would require beneficiaries to order virtually all maintenance medication refills through TMOP. MOAA and The Military Coalition think that’s going too far. In some instances the mail-order system isn’t appropriate or efficient — such as when the doctor changes a dosage or when lost medication is replaced. Another way to reduce government cost is to require drug companies to provide DoD the same prices through the retail system that they charge for drugs dispensed through military and VA facilities. That could eliminate $100 of that $150-per-prescription cost difference. The Senate version of the defense bill would do that, but the administration’s budgeteers oppose that provision — seemingly putting the interests of drug companies ahead of DoD. MOAA supports the Senate provision requiring reduced retail drug prices and heartily endorses eliminating any beneficiary copayments for drugs obtained through TMOP. MOAA doesn’t support mandatory refills of maintenance medications through the mail-order system. That doesn’t allow enough latitude for individual circumstances — especially when White House budgeteers are siding with drug companies, opposing consistent discounts for militarypurchased drugs. [CONTINUES ON PAGE 34] ON THE WEB ■ For more information on TMOP, including details on how to enroll, visit www.tricare.osd .mil/pharmacy/tmop.cfm. 32 MILITARY OFFICER OCTOBER 2006 http://www.moaa.org/legisinterestsurvey http://www.tricare.osd.mil/pharmacy/tmop.cfm http://www.tricare.osd.mil/pharmacy/tmop.cfm
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