COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY ON DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PHARMACY BENEFITS PROGRAM.

SEC. 718. COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY ON DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PHARMACY BENEFITS PROGRAM.(a) In General.—The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study of the Department of Defense pharmacy benefits program required by section 1074g of title 10, United States Code.(b) Elements.—The study required by subsection (a) shall include an examination of the following:(1) The cost of the Department of Defense pharmacy benefits program since the inception of the program.(2) The relative costs of various options under the program.(3) The copayment structure under the program.(4) The effectiveness of the rebate system under the program as a way of passing on discounts received by the Federal Government in the purchase of pharmaceutical agents.(5) The uniform formulary under the program, including the success of the formulary in achieving savings anticipated through use of the formulary.120 STAT. 2293(6) Various alternative means of purchasing pharmaceutical agents more efficiently for availability under the program.(7) The composition and decision-making processes of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.(8) The composition of the Beneficiary Advisory Panel and its history as an advisory panel under the program (including the frequency of the acceptance of its recommendations by the Secretary of Defense).(9) Quality assurance mechanisms under the program.(10) The role of the program in support of the disease and chronic care management programs of the Department of Defense.(11) Mechanisms for customer service and customer feedback under the program.(12) Beneficiary satisfaction with the program.(c) Report.—Not later than nine months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the study required by subsection (a). The report shall include such recommendations as the Comptroller General considers appropriate for legislative or administrative action to improve the Department of Defense pharmacy benefits program in light of the study.