Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Help Our Heroes Access Medicine Act of 2020”.
Help Our Heroes Access Medicine Act of 2020
A BILL
To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Defense to temporarily waive cost-sharing amounts under the TRICARE pharmacy benefits program during certain declared emergencies.
Sec. 2 Temporary waiver of cost-sharing amounts under TRICARE pharmacy benefits program during declared emergency
Temporary waiver— Section 1074g of title 10, United States Code, is amended—
in subsection (a)(6)—
in subparagraph (A), by striking “In the case” and inserting “Except as provided in subparagraph (D), in the case”;
in subparagraph (B), by striking “For any year” and inserting “Except as provided in subparagraph (D), for any year”; and
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
“(D) During a covered emergency, the Secretary may waive a requirement for eligible covered beneficiaries to pay cost-sharing amounts under this subsection. In determining whether to waive such requirement, the Secretary may consider whether the waiver would—
“(i) promote use of the national mail-order pharmacy program by eligible covered beneficiaries;
“(ii) reduce movement of eligible covered beneficiaries to facilities of the uniformed services;
“(iii) promote adherence by eligible covered beneficiaries to policies of the Federal, State, or local government relating to social distancing for reduced transmission of communicable diseases; or
“(iv) facilitate any other policy of the Federal, State, or local government relating to emergency response during a covered period.”
in subsection (i), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(5) The term “covered emergency” means a period—
“(A) beginning on the date on which the President declares a national emergency pursuant to the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) and ending on the date of the termination of such emergency; or
“(B) beginning on the date on which the Secretary of Health and Human Services declares a public health emergency pursuant to section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) and ending on the date of the termination of such emergency.”
Application— The amendment made in subsection (a) shall apply—
with respect to purchases under the pharmacy benefits program established under section 1047g of title 10, United States Code, occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this Act; and
with respect to covered emergencies in effect on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.