By Shannon Muchmore
The U.S. Veterans Affairs Department on Monday announced new proposed guidelines (PDF) meant to lower the copay for veterans buying prescription drugs.
The VA estimates about 80% of eligible veterans would save between $1 and $5 per month’s supply of a prescription under the new guidelines and 6% would see an increase.
The proposed rule comes at a time of intense discussion concerning prescription drug prices. Polls have shown rising costs as a chief concern for Americans and 2016 presidential candidates have stumped on the issue.
The proposed guidelines would eliminate the current procedure, which charges $8 or $9 for a 30-day supply of a drug. That price increases based on the Medical Consumer Price Index, although the VA has frozen copays every year since 2009.
It would be replaced with a system involving three tiers. Generic medications would fall 
under tier one, with a copay of $5, and tier two, with a copay of $8. Third tier medications would include brand name drugs still under patent protection and would have a copay of $11.
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