[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 16, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66626-66627]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29864]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


TRICARE Over-the-Counter Drug Demonstration Project

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of modifications and an extension to the TRICARE over-
the-counter drug demonstration project.

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SUMMARY: This notice is to advise interested parties of modifications 
to and an extension of the demonstration project entitled ``TRICARE 
Over-the-Counter Drug Demonstration Project.'' The original 
demonstration notice was published on June 15, 2007 (72 FR 33208; FR 
Doc. E7-11558) and described a demonstration project to evaluate the 
costs/benefits and beneficiary satisfaction of providing OTC drugs 
under the pharmacy benefits program when the selected OTC drugs are 
determined to be clinically effective. The demonstration was to be 
conducted until the implementation of the combined TRICARE mail and 
retail contract (TPharm) which will be November 4, 2009. This 
demonstration project will now be modified and extended for three 
additional years (November 4, 2012).

[[Page 66627]]


DATES: The modification and extension of the demonstration project is 
effective from November 4, 2009, to November 4, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colonel Everett McAllister, TRICARE 
Management Activity, Pharmaceutical Operations Directorate, telephone 
(703) 681-2890.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

A. Background

    For additional information on the TRICARE Over-the-Counter Drug 
Demonstration Project, see 72 FR 33208 (June 15, 2007).

B. Description of Modifications to the Demonstration Project

    (1) Paragraph B(2) of the original notice at 72 FR 33209 is revised 
to read as follows:
    OTC drug availability through the demonstration project. Eligible 
candidates for the demonstration are those who have a prescription for 
a prescription item that has an approved OTC drug equivalent, as 
defined by the program. The process used to verify eligibility will 
depend upon the dispensing venue the beneficiary chooses to use. Not 
all OTC drugs eligible for dispensing through this project will be 
available at all dispensing venues. The Pharmacy Program Office will 
communicate OTC drug availability through the use of the TRICARE Web 
site (http://www.tricare.mil/pharmacy), public affairs outreach, and 
through the representative military beneficiary organizations.
    (2) Paragraph B(4) of the original notice at 72 FR 33209 and 33210 
is revised to read as follows:
    Cost sharing requirements. Until a modification to the new pharmacy 
contract software can occur to accept a $0 cost share, beneficiaries 
will be charged a non-reimbursable TRICARE cost share of $3 identical 
to that charged for a generic pharmaceutical agent. The $3 cost share 
will apply until the earlier of January 1, 2010 or the date on which 
systems changes can be made to accommodate processing of the retail 
network pharmacy and mail order pharmacy claims with a $0 cost share.
    (3) Paragraph B(5) of the original notice at 72 FR 33210 is revised 
to read as follows:
    Period of demonstration. The modification of the demonstration 
project will be effective November 4, 2009. This demonstration project 
will be extended for three additional years (November 4, 2012).

    Dated: December 11, 2009.
Mitchell S. Bryman,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. E9-29864 Filed 12-15-09; 8:45 am]
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