Office of the Secretary December 11, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This interim final rule implements Section 716 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 which establishes a five year pilot program that would generally require TRICARE for Life beneficiaries to obtain all refill prescriptions for covered maintenance medications from the TRICARE mail order program or military treatment facility pharmacies. Covered maintenance medications are those that involve recurring prescriptions for chronic conditions, but do not include medications to treat acute conditions. Beneficiaries may opt out of the pilot program after one year of participation. This rule includes procedures to assist beneficiaries in transferring covered prescriptions to the mail order pharmacy program. This regulation is being issued as an interim final rule in order to comply with the express statutory intent that the program begin early in calendar year 2013. Public comments, however, are invited and will be considered for possible revisions to this rule for the second year of the program.