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Congress·In Committee·S. 4106

Sens. Cotton and Kaine Introduce Rx ACCESS Act to Expand Pharmacy Choice for Military Families

Rx ACCESS Act

9 days ago·View on Congress.gov·Read full text

Legislative Progress

Senate
House
President
Law

Key Points

  • Starting October 1, 2026, TRICARE beneficiaries — military members, retirees, and their families — can choose to fill non-generic maintenance prescriptions at any available option: retail pharmacies, military pharmacies, or mail-order. This ends current rules that pushed many toward mail-order.

    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).”
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  • The bill sets minimum reimbursement standards for local retail pharmacies, requiring they be paid at least the actual cost of acquiring the drug (or a national average acquisition cost proxy) plus a professional dispensing fee matching what their state pays under Medicaid.

    From policy text

    “reimbursement to a retail pharmacy described in subsection (a)(2)(E)(ii) for a pharmaceutical agent provided under such program shall be an amount that is equal to not less than the sum of-- ``(A) either-- ``(i) the actual cost to the pharmacy of acquiring such pharmaceutical agent from a wholesaler”
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  • The bill bans pharmacy benefit managers from imposing hidden fees on retail pharmacies participating in TRICARE, including point-of-sale fees, retroactive fees, and other indirect charges that can squeeze pharmacy profit margins.

    From policy text

    “The contractor administering the pharmacy benefits program may not impose any fees on a retail pharmacy described in subsection (a)(2)(E)(ii), including point-of-sale fees, retroactive fees, or other indirect or hidden fees.”
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  • Annual audits by the Government Accountability Office will review reimbursement data, price concessions, and whether the retail pharmacy network provides adequate access — with special attention to rural and underserved areas.

    From policy text

    “the adequacy of the retail pharmacy network under the TRICARE program 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)”
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  • The Secretary of Defense must submit a plan for implementing the new pharmacy rules to congressional defense committees within 90 days of enactment.

    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.”
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HealthcareVeterans

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Mar 17, 2026Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mar 17, 2026

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Within one year of enactment

First annual GAO audit of TRICARE pharmacy reimbursements and network adequacy

Independent review ensures pharmacies are being paid fairly and military families have good access, especially in rural areas

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Rx ACCESS Act

Bill NumberS 4106
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionRead twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Read Full Bill Text

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(2)
D: 1R: 1

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.