Veterans who fill their prescriptions at a Veterans Affairs Department pharmacy will see no increase in co-payments until at least January 2017, according to a new federal rule.

Under the new policy published Wednesday in the Federal Register, VA will extend a freeze on co-payment increases until at least Dec. 31, 2016.

Veterans are required to pay a portion of the cost for prescription drugs they receive for non-service-related conditions if their incomes exceed established threshold limits.

They pay either $8 or $9 per 30-day prescription, depending on their eligibility status within the VA health system.

According to VA, veterans tend to reduce use of their pharmacy benefits when co-payments rise, which leads to not taking their medications as prescribed.

Patients also are at greater risk for adverse drug interactions if they fill some of their prescriptions at VA and others at civilian pharmacies, VA officials say.

The freeze is designed to continue providing the benefit to veterans at moderate cost.

Some veterans are likely to see a co-payment increase after 2016; according to the rule, the freeze extension will give VA time to develop a tiered co-payment structure similar to those of federal agencies, such as the Defense Department's Tricare program, and the commercial sector.

About Patricia Kime

Patricia Kime is a senior writer covering military and veterans health care, medicine and personnel issues.

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