US HB6580

Codifies the VA national formulary into law, requiring uniform implementation across all VA medical facilities with the Pharmacy Benefits Management Service responsible for management

Establishes a Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee within the Veterans Health Administration composed of physicians, pharmacists, and pharmacoeconomists who must be free of pharmaceutical industry conflicts of interest and must make formulary decisions within 120 days of FDA drug approval

Creates a standardized nonformulary drug request process requiring initial decisions within 96 hours, appeals decisions within 7 days, uniform approval criteria across all VA facilities, and portability of approvals when veterans transfer between VA locations

Authorizes the VA Secretary to negotiate supplemental drug discounts beyond existing price limits, pursue value-based purchasing arrangements tied to drug effectiveness, and establish tiered copayments with lower costs for generic and formulary drugs

Creates a Veterans Formulary Advisory Committee of up to 10 members including front-line clinicians and pharmacists to provide input on formulary changes, with semiannual meetings and a 2-year termination date