[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 213 (Friday, November 2, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 66182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26888]


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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 an extension to the TRICARE Over-the-Counter Drug 
Demonstration Project.

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SUMMARY: This notice is to advise interested parties of a 2-year 
extension of the demonstration project in which the Department of 
Defense (DoD) evaluates allowing selected over-the-counter (OTC) drugs 
to be included on the TRICARE uniform formulary. The Department will 
continue 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.

DATES: This demonstration project will continue through November 4, 
2014.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 705 of the John Warner National 
Defense Authorization Act for 2007 directed the Secretary to conduct a 
demonstration project under 10 U.S.C. 1092 to allow certain over-the-
counter (OTC) medications to be included on the uniform formulary under 
10 U.S.C. 1074g. On June 15, 2007, the Department of Defense published 
a notice in the Federal Register (72 FR 33208-33210) implementing the 
demonstration project until the implementation of the combined TRICARE 
mail and retail contract (TPharm) which was on November 4, 2009. In 
order to more thoroughly evaluate the clinical and cost effectiveness 
of OTC drugs as well as beneficiary satisfaction with the project, the 
Department published a notice in the Federal Register (74 FR 66626-
66627) on December 16, 2009 that extended the demonstration project 
through November 4, 2012. The Department has determined that 
continuation of the demonstration project for an additional 2 years is 
necessary to provide the Secretary with sufficient information to fully 
evaluate the project. The demonstration project continues to be 
authorized by 10 U.S.C. 1092.

    Dated: October 31, 2012.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2012-26888 Filed 11-1-12; 8:45 am]
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