Know your options for Rx service Published Oct. 6, 2015 By 19th Medical Group LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- TRICARE prescription changes (U.S. Air Force graphic by Senior Airman Harry Brexel) As of Oct.1, all DoD beneficiaries not on active duty will be required to fill all brand-name medications using the TRICARE Mail Order Pharmacy (TMOP) or a Military Treatment Facility (MTF) pharmacy. Generic medications and medications for short term illness or injury (less than 30 days) will still be eligible to be filled at retail pharmacy locations that accept TRICARE (i.e., Wal-Mart, CVS, etc). Congress, in an effort to control costs of the Department of Defense, set forth requirements in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2015 mandating modifications to cost-sharing within the pharmacy benefit program. Retail pharmacy sites are the most expensive of all three points of service for obtaining medications, and costs are continuously rising, increasing approximately 24% in Fiscal Year 2014 alone. On average, retail pharmacy costs 68% more than TMOP and 79% more than MTF pharmacies for the same services. As listed on the Express Scripts TRICARE website, patients have several options available to them when this new program starts: Option 1 - Transfer your prescription from a retail pharmacy to TRICARE Mail Order Pharmacy. Medications will be delivered to your door at a lower cost than retail. A typical cost for a 90-day retail supply of brand name medication is $60, but only $16 through Home Delivery. Option 2 - Transfer your prescription from a retail pharmacy to a military pharmacy. Check for Little Rock AFB Pharmacy's formulary (list of available medications) at the web address listed below or call your local military pharmacy to see if they can fill your prescription. Medications on the MTF formulary will be filled for up to a 90-day supply at no cost to the patient. Option 3 - Ask your doctor about using a low-cost generic medication that is not affected by the program. You can still fill these generic medications at a retail pharmacy for $8 for each 30-day supply. Option 4 - If you choose to continue to get your brand name prescription filled at a retail pharmacy, you will be responsible for 100% of the cost, starting with your third month fill. The MTF formulary is available on the Little Rock AFB main page (www.littlerock.af.mil). Simply click on "Base Pharmacy Formulary" at the bottom of the page or you may access the formulary directly at http://www.littlerock.af.mil/units/19thmedicalgroup/formulary/. Patients may print this formulary and take it with them to all doctors' appointments. TRICARE also maintains a searchable database of medications that are covered at all three points of pharmacy service. Visit www.express-scripts.com/TRICARE and click on "Formulary Search Tool" at the bottom of the page. This information will allow the patient and the doctor to have an open discussion about the best, safest, and most cost effective treatment strategy. For any additional questions, please visit www.express-scripts.com/TRICARE or stop by your local MTF pharmacy. We will be glad to assist you.