Last week, the House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act, including text requiring an annual audit of the Tricare pharmacy program by the Government Accountability Office. The audit language would create more transparency around community and LTC pharmacy reimbursement rates, including the difference between affiliates and non-affiliate pharmacies, network adequacy, and timeliness of dispensing. NCPA applauds the inclusion of the audit, on which NCPA worked with Reps. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) and Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H) and the broader House Armed Services Committee.
This legislation, passed by a vote of 216-212, made it through as part of a package that also included bills for a third budget resolution, a ban on congressional stock trading, and legislation that would fund the government through a continuing resolution past the November elections in hopes of avoiding a government shutdown.
This legislation now heads to the Senate for further consideration, though concerns with provisions outside of our priorities could hold up the passage until later this fall.
You can read the Tricare audit language here in Section 774.
