Sen. Kaine cosponsors bill aimed at improving veterans' access to medication

Gavin Stone, The Virginian-Pilot on Mar 21, 2026

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Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine this week cosponsored a new bipartisan bill aimed at improving access to prescription medication for TRICARE recipients.

The bill, S. 4106 known as the Rx ACCESS Act, would reduce costs for retail pharmacies serving TRICARE patients and establish annual audits to ensure the law is being followed and to track continuity of care and accessibility. Kaine, a Democrat, introduced the bill Tuesday alongside Arkansas Sen.Tom Cotton, a Republican.

Kaine said in a news release that the bill is “critical” to helping active-duty military members and their families get the medication they need.

“We have an obligation to our servicemembers and their families to ensure they have access to high-quality health care,” Kaine said.

The ACCESS Act stipulates that retail pharmacies serving those covered by TRICARE be reimbursed for the costs of acquiring drugs from wholesalers or receive funds no less than the national average cost for drugs included on a cost index published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Pharmacies would also be reimbursed for professional dispensing fees equal to the fee paid by the state they operate in.

The bill also protects pharmacies from indirect or hidden fees and instructs the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct annual audits of contractors administering TRICARE benefits.

“Our active-duty troops and their families make extraordinary sacrifices for our nation, yet they often face difficulties accessing essential prescription medications,” Cotton said in a news release. “Our bill will ensure that active-duty military families can access their prescriptions at pharmacies of their choice.”

Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, has been outspoken on issues affecting veterans’ health care. He criticized the Trump administration’s recent staffing cuts at the Department of Veterans Affairs and in December hailed the announcement of a lease on a new VA outpatient clinic in Virginia Beach which was authorized in 2022.