Noteboom The Law Firm

Veterans Given Lower Prices on Prescription Drugs

June 17, 2010 - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been put on the defense lately as to their handling of prescription drugs and veterans. Some people have called for the VA to start buying their drugs outside the country to save costs, and some have called for the VA to modify how veterans access VA prescriptions from private nursing homes.

Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell signed a bill (House Bill 5351, An Act Concerning Prescription Drug Benefits for Veterans in Nursing Home Facilities) last week speaking to one of these issues. The bill she signed will prohibit nursing homes from limiting patients' access in any way to obtaining prescription drugs from any VA prescription drug program. This includes prescription drugs made available from a VA health plan.

The federal VA has the capability to negotiate their prescription drugs costs with the drug companies. Because of this, they can supply veterans with prescription drugs at much reduced costs. Under this bill, veterans will have the ability to access those prescription drugs without regard to where they live.

With this new bill, the nursing home would still be allowed to hand out prescription drugs purchased through one of the VA prescription discount program. If a situation presents itself where medication is necessary, and access cannot be gained to the VA, nursing homes can also dispense medication recovered from other sources. 

Governor Rell took pride in signing this bill into law. As she said, "considering everything they [veterans] have laid on the line for us, this seems like the least we can do in return." Veterans do deserve the best possible health care we can provide and this bill gets us one step closer to making that happen, at least in Connecticut.