Thomas Ramsay
VA Prescription Co-Pays to Increase
Mon Jan 2, 2006 00:05
From: Thomas Ramsay
winm02@yahoo.com
Sent: Sunday, January 01, 2006 10:52 AM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VA Prescription Co-Pays to Increase by $1
WASHINGTON – Co-payments for outpatient medicines prescribed through Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities will rise by $1, according to an announcement today by VA. The $1 increase for a 30-day supply of prescription drugs will take effect on January 1, 2006, the first change in VA prescription drug co-payments in four years.
"Through sound management practices, efficient pharmacy operations and price negotiations that put veterans first, VA has been able to contain prescription drug costs,” said the Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, noting that co-payments paid by veterans will still be lower than similar expenses in the private sector.
The increase to $8 from $7 for a 30-day supply of prescription drugs is required by federal law, which bases VA's co-payments for outpatient prescriptions on increases in the Medical Consumer Price Index.
The $1 increase will not affect veterans who have an injury or illness connected with their military service resulting in a 50 percent or greater disability. Also known as “Priority Group 1” veterans, these patients will see no change in their current prescription drug benefit, Nicholson said.
Other veterans with less pronounced service-connected ailments – those classified as Priority Groups 2 through 6 – will see their prescription drug co-pays rise by $1, but their annual out-of-pocket expenses for VA medicine will remain capped. The new cap will rise to $960 per year, up $120 from the previous level. This means veterans in Priority Groups 2 through 6 will pay no more than $960 annually for VA outpatient medicine.
-More-
Co-Pays // 2-2-2-2-2
Veterans who have no injury or illness related in any way to their prior military service – referred to as Priority Groups 7 and 8 – will also see their co-payments increase, but there is no cap on annual payments for outpatient medicine.
Not all prescription drugs will be subject to the $1 increase. Outpatient medications not subject to co-payments include:
· Medication for treatment of a service-connected disability;
· Medication for a veteran who has a service-connected disability of 50 percent or more;
· Medication for a veteran disabled by 50 percent or more for unemployability;
· Medication for a veteran whose annual income does not exceed the amount of VA pensions;
· Medications for health problems that may be linked to Agent Orange for Vietnam veterans, to radiation exposure, to undiagnosed illnesses of Persian War veterans, or for new veterans within two years of discharge after serving in a combat theater.
# # #
People wishing to receive e-mail from VA with the latest news releases and updated fact sheets can subscribe at the following Internet address:
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/opalist_listserv.cfm
=======================================================
# Veterans Benefits Booklet
# Medicare Drug Coverage
http://www.va.gov/
The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 requires us to notify you that this information collection is in accordance with the clearance requirements of section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. We may not conduct or sponsor, and you are not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB number. We anticipate that the time expended by all individuals who must complete this form will average ten (10) minutes. This includes the time it will take to read instructions, gather the necessary facts and fill out the form. This collection of information is intended to fulfill the need identified by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to categorize your question, complaint, compliment, or suggestion and collect the necessary information to respond to it. Results will be used to automatically route your inquiry to the appropriate person in the VA, which will help ensure that you receive a response in a timely manner. Use of this form is voluntary and failure to participate will have no adverse effect of benefits to which you might otherwise be entitled.
VA Home Page / Search / Site Map / Facilities Locator / Disclaimer
Privacy & Security Statement / Freedom of Information Act / Contact the VA
https://iris.va.gov/scripts/iris.cfg/php.exe/enduser/home.php
Sent: Sunday, January 01, 2006 10:52 AM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VA Prescription Co-Pays to Increase by $1
WASHINGTON – Co-payments for outpatient medicines prescribed through Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities will rise by $1, according to an announcement today by VA. The $1 increase for a 30-day supply of prescription drugs will take effect on January 1, 2006, the first change in VA prescription drug co-payments in four years.
"Through sound management practices, efficient pharmacy operations and price negotiations that put veterans first, VA has been able to contain prescription drug costs,” said the Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, noting that co-payments paid by veterans will still be lower than similar expenses in the private sector.
The increase to $8 from $7 for a 30-day supply of prescription drugs is required by federal law, which bases VA's co-payments for outpatient prescriptions on increases in the Medical Consumer Price Index.
The $1 increase will not affect veterans who have an injury or illness connected with their military service resulting in a 50 percent or greater disability. Also known as “Priority Group 1” veterans, these patients will see no change in their current prescription drug benefit, Nicholson said.
Other veterans with less pronounced service-connected ailments – those classified as Priority Groups 2 through 6 – will see their prescription drug co-pays rise by $1, but their annual out-of-pocket expenses for VA medicine will remain capped. The new cap will rise to $960 per year, up $120 from the previous level. This means veterans in Priority Groups 2 through 6 will pay no more than $960 annually for VA outpatient medicine.
-More-
Co-Pays // 2-2-2-2-2
Veterans who have no injury or illness related in any way to their prior military service – referred to as Priority Groups 7 and 8 – will also see their co-payments increase, but there is no cap on annual payments for outpatient medicine.
Not all prescription drugs will be subject to the $1 increase. Outpatient medications not subject to co-payments include:
· Medication for treatment of a service-connected disability;
· Medication for a veteran who has a service-connected disability of 50 percent or more;
· Medication for a veteran disabled by 50 percent or more for unemployability;
· Medication for a veteran whose annual income does not exceed the amount of VA pensions;
· Medications for health problems that may be linked to Agent Orange for Vietnam veterans, to radiation exposure, to undiagnosed illnesses of Persian War veterans, or for new veterans within two years of discharge after serving in a combat theater.
# # #
People wishing to receive e-mail from VA with the latest news releases and updated fact sheets can subscribe at the following Internet address:
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/opalist_listserv.cfm
=======================================================
# Veterans Benefits Booklet
# Medicare Drug Coverage
http://www.va.gov/
The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 requires us to notify you that this information collection is in accordance with the clearance requirements of section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. We may not conduct or sponsor, and you are not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB number. We anticipate that the time expended by all individuals who must complete this form will average ten (10) minutes. This includes the time it will take to read instructions, gather the necessary facts and fill out the form. This collection of information is intended to fulfill the need identified by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to categorize your question, complaint, compliment, or suggestion and collect the necessary information to respond to it. Results will be used to automatically route your inquiry to the appropriate person in the VA, which will help ensure that you receive a response in a timely manner. Use of this form is voluntary and failure to participate will have no adverse effect of benefits to which you might otherwise be entitled.
VA Home Page / Search / Site Map / Facilities Locator / Disclaimer
Privacy & Security Statement / Freedom of Information Act / Contact the VA
https://iris.va.gov/scripts/iris.cfg/php.exe/enduser/home.php
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