Panel Chairman to Counter Tricare Rate Hikes

House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee Chairman John McHugh, R-N.Y., plans to block a Defense Department scheme to double and triple the costs of Tricare for military retirees under age 65 and boost pharmacy costs for all military retirees. During a markup of the subcommittee’s part of the fiscal 2007 authorization bill, he is expected to insert a provision to prevent increases in premiums and enrollment fees until at least Dec. 31, 2007. This would give time for studies by the Congressional Budget Office and the Government Accountability Office, as well as for creation of a commission to review the entire military health care structure. The full committee likely will retain the DoD plan to raise retail pharmacy co-pays in order to influence retirees to use mail-order prescriptions that are less costly to the government, according to sources.