VA health care opportunities to significantly reduce outpatient pharmacy costs : report to the Chairman, Subcommittee on Hospitals and Health Care, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, House of Representatives

"All pharmacies run by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provide medications and medical supplies that are available over the counter through other local outlets. The most frequently dispensed over-the-counter products include (1) medications, such as aspirin and insulin; (2) dietary supplements, including Sustacal and Ensure; and (3) medical supplies, such as alcohol prep pads, lancets, and glucose test strips. Unlike VA, public and private health plans cover few, if any, over-the-counter products for their beneficiaries. VA pharmacies dispensed over-the-counter products more than 15 million times during fiscal year 1995 at an estimated cost of $165 million, including handling costs of $48 million. VA recovered about $7 million through veterans' copayments, or about four percent of its total over-the-counter costs. Although many veterans shared a modest portion of the costs and some paid the full amount, most veterans paid nothing. GAO suggests several ways that VA could cut costs associated with dispensing over-the-counter products or boost revenues from copayments. First, VA could more narrowly define when to provide over-the-counter products. Second, VA could more efficiently dispense over-the-counter products and collect copayments. Third, VA facilities could further reduce the number of over-the-counter products available to veterans on an outpatient basis. Finally, Congress could expand copayment requirements."

"VA health care opportunities to significantly reduce outpatient pharmacy costs"
"VA health care opportunities to significantly reduce outpatient pharmacy costs : report to the Chairman, Subcommittee on Hospitals and Health Care, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, House of Representatives"@en
"VA health care : opportunities to significantly reduce outpatient pharmacy costs : report to the Chairman, Subcommittee on Hospitals and Health Care, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, House of Representatives"