ARMED FORCES NEWS
December 14

The Department of Veterans Affairs has lowered copayments for veterans receiving nonservice-connected outpatient care. A new VA regulation created a tiered system which replaced the former blanket copayment of $50.80. VA Secretary Anthony Principi asserted that the reduction in outpatient charges will be balanced by an increased copay for non-service connected prescriptions that begins February 4. (NSC medication copayments will jump from $2 to $7 for a 30-day supply, with total payments capped at n$840 for veterans in certain enrollment categories.) The new tiers for outpatient care: (1) preventive care visits, including flu shots, laboratory tests, certain radiology services, hepatitis C screenings and other preventive services - no copayment; (2) primary care visits - $15 copayment; (3) specialized outpatient treatments such as outpatient surgeries, audiology and optometric services - $50 copayment. Outpatient copayments apply primarily to veterans enrolled in Priority Group 7, said the VA.

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