OTC coverage
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
The Department of Defense will include OTCs found to be cost effective and therapeutically equivalent to Rx drugs in its formulary as part of a "demonstration project" under the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2007 (HR 5122), which was presented to the president for signing Oct. 5. DoD's Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee will determine which OTCs qualify. The program will be implemented no later than May 1, 2007. DoD will evaluate the costs, benefits, clinical effectiveness and customer satisfaction of the program, and provide a report within two years of implementation to the Senate and House Committees on Armed Forces. The report will include proposed improvements and recommendations as to whether the department should have permanent authority to cover OTCs in its pharmacy benefits program...