WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following a lack of response from the Department of Defense (DoD) regarding an invitation to sit down with health care professionals and TRICARE beneficiaries who have been impacted by Express Scripts dropping it from their coverage, Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) renewed his call for the DoD’s participation in a listening session with these stakeholders:

“I’m disappointed that the DoD is ignoring an opportunity to sit down with the people impacted by its inaction and learn, firsthand, why access to local pharmacies matters. These men and women have given so much to our country and DoD should not be ignoring our military and their families. Patients are struggling to access basic medications, let alone treatments for cancer and other life-threatening conditions, just to pad a pharmacy benefit manager’s bottom line. If the DoD is set on allowing this clear conflict of interest to advance, the least it can do is show up and defend this position.”

The listening session is scheduled for December 7th. Several pharmacies, health care professionals, and TRICARE beneficiary groups have confirmed their attendance. Rep. Carter, along with 48 Members of Congress, invited the DoD to this listening session via a letter on November 21st.

Read more information on Express Scripts dropping TRICARE patients here.