The Senate Armed Services Committee released its language for the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act after it was marked up and voted out of committee 26-1. Included in the committee report is an amendment from Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) that NCPA was proud to collaborate on. The language would require congressional briefings regarding the difference in reimbursement rates, fees, and price concessions between affiliate and non-affiliate pharmacies in the Tricare program.
Additionally, the Senate Appropriations Committee released its language for the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education fiscal year 2026 funding legislation after it was marked up and voted out of committee 25-3. Included in the committee report are several provisions related to pharmacy including:
- A report on the test-to-treat model from the COVID-19 Federal Retail Pharmacy Program with the potential to create demonstration to expand the program for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV.
- A briefing on the impact of the influence of PBMs and their GPOs on prescription drug pricing.
- An update to health workforce shortage programs by looking at ways to expand the programs to include health professionals, specifically pharmacists, that have not been included in the past.
- Continued support for oversight and action on the impact of DIR fees on community pharmacies.
- Expanding the Telehealth Network Grant program to include telepharmacy as an area for future grant awards.
