Tricare Moves Drugs to Third Tier

DoD will soon be notifying TRICARE beneficiaries currently taking certain migraine and osteoporosis medications that their medication is being moved to the third tier of the TRICARE formulary and will now require a $22 co-pay. These patients are being notified so they and their doctors can consider alternative medications available at the lower co-pay. (First tier/generic drugs require a $3 co-pay and second tier/brand name drugs require a $9 co-pay.)
Migraine mediations Axert, Frova, and Amerge will be moved to the higher $22 co-pay list. Imitrex, Zomig, Maxalt, Relpax, and Treximet will continue to be available at the normal copays.

The osteoperosis medication Miacalcin will move to the third tier, with Fosamax, Boniva, Actonel, Evista, Forteo, and Fortical remaining available at the lower co-pay.
The newer hypertension drugs Bystolic and Azor also will move to the third tier, along with Xyzal, an antihistamine, and Zyflo CR, used to treat Asthma.

Information on substitute medications can be found at TRICARE's Formulary Search Tool at www.tricareformularysearch.org. ; A doctor who believes it is important for a patient to take the third-tier medication can provide "medical necessity" justification to TRICARE. If approved, the patient will continue receiving the medication at the lower co-pay.