Rx ACCESS Act
Rep. Kiggans Introduces Bipartisan Rx ACCESS Act to Expand Pharmacy Choice for Military Families
The Rx ACCESS Act was recently introduced and is currently being reviewed by the House Committee on Armed Services. It is in the early stages of the lawmaking process and is considered active. There are no upcoming votes scheduled for this bill at this time.
Part of: story →Passage Likelihood
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- Starting October 2026, TRICARE beneficiaries (military families, retirees, and service members) can choose to pick up brand-name maintenance medications at local retail pharmacies instead of being required to use mail-order services.
From policy text
“Beginning on October 1, 2026, an eligible covered beneficiary may elect to receive non-generic prescription maintenance medications through any means described in paragraph (2)(E).”
View in full text - The bill sets new reimbursement floors for retail pharmacies, requiring they be paid at least their actual drug acquisition cost (or the national average acquisition cost) plus a professional dispensing fee matching what their state pays under Medicaid. This helps keep local pharmacies financially viable within the TRICARE network.
From policy text
“reimbursement to a TRICARE retail pharmacy described in subsection (a)(2)(E)(ii) for a pharmaceutical agent provided under such program shall be an amount that is at least equal to the sum of”
View in full text - The bill bans pharmacy benefit managers from imposing hidden or retroactive fees on TRICARE retail pharmacies, including point-of-sale fees and other indirect charges. This protects small pharmacies from surprise costs that can push them out of the network.
From policy text
“The contractor administering the TRICARE pharmacy benefits program may not impose any fees on a TRICARE retail pharmacy, including point-of-sale fees, retroactive fees, or other indirect or hidden fees.”
View in full text - The Government Accountability Office would conduct annual audits examining pharmacy reimbursement rates, price concessions, and network adequacy, with special attention to rural and underserved areas.
From policy text
“the adequacy of the TRICARE retail pharmacy network and access by eligible covered beneficiaries to such network, including with respect to continuity of care, geographic accessibility (taking into account factors in addition to travel time to and from a pharmacy, with special consideration for rural and underserved areas)”
View in full text - The Secretary of Defense must submit an implementation plan to Congress within 90 days of the bill becoming law, laying out how these pharmacy changes will be rolled out.
From policy text
“Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees (as defined in section 101(a)(16) of title 10, United States Code) a plan for the implementation of this section.”
View in full text
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
State Impacts
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Related News
3 articlesCotton Introduces Bill to Strengthen Access to Care for Active-Duty Military Families
Senator Tom Cotton and Senator Tim Kaine introduced the Rx ACCESS Act to protect independent pharmacies from unfair reimbursement practices in the TRICARE program. The bill ensures military families have easy access to prescriptions at pharmacies of their choice rather than being forced into mail-order.
Kaine introduces bill to make using military health insurance at local pharmacies easier
The Rx ACCESS Act would allow TRICARE patients to fill prescriptions for non-generic drugs at local pharmacies, a move intended to reverse the trend of community pharmacies leaving the network due to low reimbursement rates. Sen. Kaine noted the bill treats military families like the general public.
Costs for Tricare Are Going Up in 2026
Most TRICARE health plan costs will rise between 2% and 3% in 2026, with prescription drug costs seeing steeper increases of over 15%. The new rates affect enrollment fees, deductibles, and copayments for medical services across different beneficiary groups.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Rx ACCESS Act
Data Sources
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Cosponsors
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