This Week on Capitol Hill

 

By Diane Zumatto, AMVETS National Legislative Director

LANHAM, Md., May 15, 2012 This week the House Armed Services Committee formally rejected the President’s proposed TRICARE fee increases. The President’s budget request included: increasing pharmacy co-pays, an annual enrollment fee for TRICARE For Life for military retirees, income-based enrollment fees for TRICARE Prime, and adding an annual enrollment fee and higher deductibles for TRICARE Standard and Extra.

While the House version of the FY13 National Defense Authorization Act would increase some TRICARE pharmacy co-pays, it does not include the DoD’s plan to stop enrollment fees for TRICARE Prime. While this is good news, it’s not a done deal yet. The HASC budget proposal still has to be presented to the full house for a vote.

Unfortunately, even if the HASC proposal passes unanimously in the House, it is highly unlikely to pass through the Senate without argument and revision.