Tricare expands vaccination coverage to pharmacies, clinics
FALLS CHURCH, Va. The Department of Defense on Thursday issued an interim final rule through the Federal Register designating pharmacies as providers for H1N1, seasonal flu and pneumonia vaccinations under its Tricare program. The policy change, effective immediately and expected to be fully implemented later this month, brings the program in line with other insurers that have covered pharmacist-administered vaccinations.
“NCPA strongly supports the Pentagon’s decision to cover the provision of these critical vaccines at community pharmacies,” stated Bruce Roberts, EVP and CEO of the National Community Pharmacists Association. “The 9.5 million Tricare-eligible patients gain a convenient new vaccination option,” he said. “[And] taxpayers and plan administrators will save money when vaccines are administered at pharmacies instead of costlier doctors’ offices or hospitals.”
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores also commended the decision, stating that pharmacies "[are] uniquely positioned to offer such services for patients as vaccinations."
“With the flu season upon us, it is important to help patients stay as healthy as possible. And for Tricare patients, this ruling provides them the ability to access their neighborhood pharmacy to receive these vaccinations,” said NACDS president and CEO Steve Anderson.
Tricare also is seeking comments on additional vaccines that should be covered through community pharmacies.
Tricare also recently added local convenient care clinics as network providers, meaning Tricare covered can also visit their local Take Care Health or MinuteClinic for influenza vaccines, the military payor announced last month.
Along with getting their flu shots at local military treatment facilities and from their primary care manager, nonactive duty Tricare Prime beneficiaries in the North and South regions can now receive flu vaccinations at local convenient care clinics. Tricare Standard or Extra beneficiaries who are not Medicare-eligible can also take advantage of the convenient care clinics, now that Tricare has waived cost shares for immunizations received from network providers.
“Convenient care clinics may be the perfect option for busy families to take advantage of this important preventive care,” Tricare stated in a press release.
In the North Region, Health Net has contracted with convenient care clinics at all MinuteClinics in CVS pharmacies; Take Care Clinics in Walgreens; and Little Clinics in Kroger food stores. In the South Region, Humana Military has limited service clinics at MinuteClinics in CVS pharmacies.