{"id":65576,"date":"2022-10-07T18:27:17","date_gmt":"2022-10-07T18:27:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/10\/07\/100-lawmakers-question-changes-affecting-access-to-tricare-pharmacies\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T15:03:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T15:03:38","slug":"100-lawmakers-question-changes-affecting-access-to-tricare-pharmacies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/pay-benefits\/2022\/10\/07\/100-lawmakers-question-changes-affecting-access-to-tricare-pharmacies\/","title":{"rendered":"100 lawmakers question changes affecting access to Tricare pharmacies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lawmakers are questioning Defense Department officials about the reduction in reimbursements for retail pharmacies in the Tricare network, expressing concern about the effects on military beneficiaries\u2019 access to local pharmacies<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese reductions may leave many retail pharmacies unable to participate in the Tricare Pharmacy Program, thus significantly impacting 9.6 million Tricare beneficiaries\u2019 access to local pharmacies,\u201d stated the Sept. 29 letter to Seileen Mullen, acting assistant secretary of defense for health affairs. The letter was signed by 100 senators and representatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lawmakers noted that over 90% of Americans live within five miles of a community pharmacy, and 76.5% of pharmacies in rural areas are independent community pharmacies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defense officials confirmed that 27% of the pharmacies in the Tricare retail pharmacy network are leaving as of Oct. 24. Those leaving are community and independent pharmacies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cExpress Scripts Inc., the pharmacy contractor responsible for maintaining the Tricare pharmacy network, has said that of the roughly 55,586 network retail pharmacies, 14,963 will not continue participation in the network,\u201d said Peter Graves, spokesman for the Defense Health Agency, in a statement provided to Military Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDespite this change, the Tricare retail network will continue to meet or exceed Tricare\u2019s standard for pharmacy access,\u201d Graves said. CVS and Walgreens<\/a>, as well as many grocery store pharmacies and smaller chains continue to participate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBeneficiaries will continue to have many convenient, local in-network options for filling their medications, including those beneficiaries in rural locations,\u201d he said. \u201cNearly 95% of beneficiaries will maintain access to at least two network pharmacies within 15 minutes from their home, and 99.8% will have access within 30 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tricare doesn\u2019t participate in contract negotiations between Express Scripts and retail pharmacies, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\t