TRICARE For Life Pharmacy Pilot begins March 2014 Published March 17, 2014 By 2nd Lt. Timothy Williams 4th Medical Group SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- A new pilot program requires TRICARE For Life (TFL) beneficiaries to use TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery or a military pharmacy to fill prescriptions for a select list of about 500 maintenance medications, which are prescriptions taken regularly for a chronic conditions. TFL beneficiaries taking an affected medication started receiving letters in February, notifying them of the changes. Beginning March 15, members will have two 30-day refills of their prescriptions covered at retail pharmacy locations before they are responsible for 100 percent of the cost. Beneficiaries can call the TRICARE pharmacy contractor, Express Scripts, at 1-877-882-3335 to switch to Home Delivery or to ask questions about their medications. To see which maintenance medications are affected by the pilot visit http://pec.ha.osd.mil/TFL_maintenance_drug_list.php. According to the 4th Medical Group, acute medications, such as those received from an emergency room or urgent care visit are most likely not affected as they are almost never maintenance medications. Some individuals are exempt from the new program, including people with another prescription drug plan, or people living outside the 50 United States. People living in a nursing home can contact Express Scripts to request a waiver. TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery is safe, convenient and easy to use, according to many patients who have already made the switch. Home Delivery offers beneficiaries a 90-day supply of their brand name medication for $13 for each prescription filled. Switching these prescriptions from a retail pharmacy to Home Delivery can save TRICARE beneficiaries up to $152 a year for each prescription. Beneficiaries can also save by asking their doctor to prescribe a generic version of their medication, instead of the name brand version. "Home Delivery is an excellent choice for TRICARE beneficiaries to get their maintenance medications," said Lt. Col. Michael Neace, 4th Medical Group Diagnostics & Therapeutics Flight Commander. "Not only is it a less expensive and convenient choice, but Home Delivery contributes to better health by making sure you never run out of your medication." Members who wish to utilize the 4th Medical Group Pharmacy, should call ahead to (919)722-1814 or visit the 4th MDG website to view a full medication formulary to ensure prescriptions are available. For the most recent information about the pilot program or to sign up for email notifications with the latest updates, visit www.tricare.mil/tflpilot.