Department of Veterans Affairs To Allow Some Veterans To Fill Prescriptions From Private Physicians Through Mail-Order Pharmacies

As expected, the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system announced on July 24 that it will allow veterans who have waited more than 30 days to see a VA physician to obtain medications prescribed by non-VA physicians through mail-order pharmacies, the AP/Baltimore Sun reports (AP/Baltimore Sun, 7/25). Currently, the VA health system requires veterans to see a VA doctor to get their prescriptions filled by the department, which charges $7 for a 30-day supply. The new policy would affect about 200,000 veterans (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 7/24). The change will cost the VA between $10 million to $40 million, and the first prescriptions will be filled Sept. 22, the AP/Sun reports. To qualify for the benefit, veterans must be enrolled in the system or have requested their first primary care appointment with a VA physician by today, and they must have waited more than 30 days for the appointment as of Sept. 22. The new policy is aimed at cutting the time that veterans have to wait for appointments with VA physicians, the AP/Sun reports. VA Secretary Anthony Principi said, "I want to take steps wherever I can to see that they are seen within 30 days" (AP/Baltimore Sun, 7/25).