Pharmacy benefits save TRICARE beneficiaries money

  • Published
  • By Staff Reports
  • 90th Medical Support Squadron
F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Coast Guardsmen and Marines work hard and it is no different at Air Force Global Strike Command's F. E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo. One of the best benefits of serving in the United States military is the medical benefits. Pharmacy benefits can save servicemembers and their families a lot of money.

First, anyone who is covered by TRICARE, including Reserve Select, qualifies for pharmacy benefits. The military treatment facility pharmacy is the best deal. Those covered by TRICARE can receive medications from on- or off-base providers for free.

The pharmacy formulary is the list of medications that the pharmacy has in stock and dispenses on a regular basis. It is composed of basic, core formulary medications that all Department of Defense facilities are required to carry. Therefore, it should be available at any duty station. In addition, each base can choose to add medications from the uniform formulary, but these can vary at each base. Some medications are non-formulary, which means the pharmacy is not allowed to stock them. Thses decisions are made by the DoD Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, which affects all DoD medical facilities. People here can access the F. E. Warren Pharmacy Formulary on the 90th Medical Group's Facebook page or by visiting http://www.warren.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4476.

Those who have been prescribed a medication not listed on the F. E. Warren Pharmacy Formulary can ask pharmacy staff about the medication, or search for it on the TRICARE Formulary Search Tool on the DOD's Pharmacoeconomic Center Web site located at http://pec.ha.osd.mil/formulary_search.phop?submenuheader=1. This site will show any prior authorization and medical necessity criteria that may be in place for a particular medication.

The wait time for a prescription filled at the F. E. Warren Pharmacy is anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours depending on the day and time patrons visit the pharmacy. Those who are seen by a military treatment facility provider will have their prescriptions sent to the pharmacy automatically, and their names will come up on the board when their prescription is ready. The pharmacy also accepts faxed prescriptions from civilian downtown providers.

People should call to activate the prescription at least 90 minutes before they come so the pharmacy can process it and the medications can be ready upon one's arrival. All prescriptions are processed in the order they come in -- either by dropping them off, by activating them or by an MTF provider putting them into the system.

Safety is always the number one priority of the pharmacy; therefore it's staff appreciates patrons' patience on busy days. People who are unsure of how long it should take can feel free to ask the pharmacy staff what the current wait time is. The busiest days are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Friday afternoons, so those who want to avoid the crowd should come early on a different day.

For those who find it difficult to come to a MTF pharmacy, the TRICARE mail-order pharmacy can be a great option and, at the same time, a great deal. It is also a great option for those who take daily medications. This option is for beneficiaries who do not have other health insurance prescription benefits. Beneficiaries can receive up to a 90-day supply of medication mailed to their homes.

There is no cost for generic medications; brand-name medications cost $9 per 90-day supply, and non-formulary medications cost $25 for a 90-day supply. Patrons should make sure their provider writes for a 90-day supply. Patrons can sign up for this program online at http://www.expressscripts/com/TRICARE or by calling 1-877-363-1303.

Beneficiaries can also convert their medications being filled at a retail or MTF pharmacy to home delivery on the Web site. Beneficiaries can also call the clinic pharmacy to see if their medication can be transferred by pharmacy staff to mail order. This option is excellent for those who live far from a military base. Generic medicines are still free and the ones not available generically are at the lowest co-pay. Furthermore, those who are deploying soon can let their military treatment facility provider know, and they will take care of the rest.

The last, most-expensive option is the retail network pharmacy. Pharmacies affiliated with TRICARE will fill a 30-day supply for $5 for generics, $12 for brand-name medications, and $25 for non-formulary medications. If a pharmacy is not in the TRICARE network, beneficiaries will pay the full price for the medication upfront and must file a claim for reimbursement later with TRICARE. Patrons of these establishments may or may not be eligible for reimbursement, depending on their category. At retail, the equivalent 90-day price is $15 for generics, $36 for brand-name medications, and $75 for non-formulary medications. If the clinic pharmacy doesn't stock it, mail order is the next best option in terms of obtaining a contract price. Retail pharmacies charge the government retail pricing.

The MTF pharmacy is happy to transfer medications from military and retail pharmacies; patrons can just let the pharmacy staff know what medications are needed and where the need to be transferred from. The friendly staff members at the F. E. Warren Pharmacy are happy to assist in any way they can to meet one's medications needs. For more information, call 77-3461 extension 2.