Two Army veteran-lawmakers introduced legislation Wednesday that could cut hundreds of dollars a month from pharmacy bills for millions of veterans and military families — by requiring VA and TRICARE pharmacy programs to cover prescription drugs at Medicare’s federally negotiated prices whenever those prices are lower than what beneficiaries currently pay.
Representatives Eugene Vindman (D-VA-07) and Pat Ryan (D-NY-18) — both retired U.S. Army officers and members of the House Armed Services Committee — introduced the Maximizing Individual Savings for Servicemembers In Obtaining Negotiated Rx Act, known as the MISSION RX Act (H.R. 8667), on May 7, 2026.
What the Bill Would Change
Medicare recipients already benefit from federally negotiated Maximum Fair Prices — MFPs — that took effect January 1, 2026, under the Inflation Reduction Act’s Drug Price Negotiation Program. VA and TRICARE beneficiaries get none of those savings. They pay whatever their program’s existing rate is, full stop.
H.R. 8667 would close that gap. Under the bill’s statutory language, neither VA copayment amounts nor TRICARE cost-sharing amounts could exceed what a Medicare Part D beneficiary pays for any drug covered under the CMS negotiation program — and the lower of the two prices would automatically apply.
The savings aren’t abstract. Using figures from the sponsors’ office: a 30-day supply of Jardiance (empagliflozin), a widely prescribed diabetes medication, could drop by roughly $400 per fill. A 30-day supply of Eliquis (apixaban), the blood thinner used by millions of cardiovascular patients, could fall by around $300. Both drugs are among the ten Part D medications whose Medicare-negotiated prices went live January 1, 2026.
The bill is also built to scale. As CMS expands its negotiations — 15 additional Part D drugs are queued for 2027 pricing, 15 more Part B or D drugs for 2028 (specifically 10 Part D and 5 Part B), and 20 per year after that — those negotiated prices would automatically flow through to VA and TRICARE beneficiaries under H.R. 8667’s framework.
Who’s Affected
TRICARE covers approximately 9.6 million beneficiaries, including active-duty service members, retirees, National Guard and Reserve members, and their families. Millions more veterans receive pharmacy benefits through the VA health system. H.R. 8667 would affect both populations simultaneously.
For context on current costs: TRICARE retail network pharmacies — CVS, Walgreens, Walmart — charge $48 per 30-day supply for brand-name formulary drugs as of January 1, 2026. Active-duty members filling prescriptions at network retail pharmacies or through TRICARE Home Delivery pay $0. MTF pharmacies remain no-cost for all covered medications regardless of tier.
What Sponsors and Advocates Are Saying
“The last thing any of them should have to worry about is whether they can afford the prescription drugs they need.” — Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-VA)
“Military families have sacrificed so much for this country — it’s absolutely unacceptable that they’re being forced to pay more than other Americans for the same medication.” — Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY)
The bill has drawn endorsements from the Marine Corps League, the Fleet Reserve Association, and the Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service. The VA and DoD had not issued public statements on the legislation as of publication.
What Happens Next — and What to Do Now
H.R. 8667 has been introduced. It is not law. The bill faces a difficult path in a House where Republicans hold a slim majority, and no committee markup had been scheduled as of May 9, 2026.
In the meantime, TRICARE beneficiaries have three concrete steps available right now. First, check whether your maintenance medications appear on the negotiated drug list at militaryrx.express-scripts.com using the Formulary Search Tool. Second, if you take a brand-name drug for a chronic condition, compare retail versus home delivery costs — a 90-day home delivery supply through Express Scripts runs $44, versus $144 ($48 × 3) for the same 90-day supply filled at retail, a meaningful difference over the course of a year. Third, call Express Scripts directly at 877-363-1303 with cost questions, or visit tricare.mil/Costs/Compare for the full 2026 cost tables.
If the bill advances to committee, watch for movement on a companion Senate measure. The Rx ACCESS Act — a bill introduced March 17, 2026, by Senators Tim Kaine and Tom Cotton that addresses independent pharmacy reimbursement rates within TRICARE — signals bipartisan appetite for military pharmacy reform this session.
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