October 3, 2006

Pryce Praises Final Defense Measure that Preserves Access to Local Pharmacy Services for TRICARE Beneficiaries

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-Columbus) hailed House passage of the FY 2007 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 5122), which preserves TRICARE beneficiary access to local pharmacies.

During consideration of the FY 2007 National Defense Authorization Act, the U.S. Senate included a provision to require mandatory mail for prescription drugs for TRICARE beneficiaries.  The House version did not include this provision.  Rep. Pryce wrote a letter to House Armed Services Committee Duncan Hunter, a key negotiator of the final version, expressing her opposition to the Senate mail order provision.  The provision was subsequently removed from the final bill.

“Pharmacists play an instrumental role in our health delivery system. TRICARE beneficiaries throughout central Ohio rely on their local pharmacists and they should be able to pick up their prescription medications from the pharmacy of their choice,” Pryce said.  “I strongly opposed the decision in the Senate to restrict beneficiary access to pharmacies, and am extremely pleased the final measure did not include this provision.”

The final measure that passed the House and Senate on Friday is headed to the President’s desk.  In addition to preserving TRICARE beneficiary access to local pharmacies and eliminating proposed co-pays, the measure provides a 2.2 percent across-the-board military pay raise, plus an additional $263 million to fund an additional pay raise for warrant officers and senior enlisted members; $23.8 billion for readiness and equipment reset needs for the Army and Marine Corps; an increase of $1 billion for up-armored Humvees, $800.7 million for body armor, and funding for improvised explosive device jammers; and $70 billion in supplemental funding for the war on terror.