HARRISBURG, PA — A bill introduced in Pennsylvania would cap copays for mental health care visits for military service members, veterans and their families under TRICARE. 

The cap would be set at levels equivalent to those for primary health care visits across all TRICARE plans, which have increased copay costs for mental health visits by 250 percent since 2017.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced the bill, titled the Stop Copay Overpay Act, which is being co-sponsored by U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Peter Welch (D-VT). .

The legislation seeks to reduce financial barriers to mental and behavioral health care, particularly for service members and veterans at higher risk of mental health conditions.

Casey also championed the passage of the Honoring our PACT Act in 2022, which expanded U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care to over 3.5 million veterans.