Newsbytes August 8, 2025 

In this issue: 
TFL Drops Weight Loss Medication
VA Extends Community Care Authorizations
DPAA Updates Families on MIAs Efforts
VA Ends Most Union Contracts 

TFL Drops Weight Loss Medication
TRICARE has clarified its coverage rules for weight-loss medications, an update that will affect many beneficiaries. Importantly, TRICARE For Life (TFL) does not cover weight loss medications, including popular GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy, Zepbound, Saxenda, Qsymia, Phentermine, and Contrave, when prescribed for weight loss purposes. Coverage for these drugs is limited to certain TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Select, and premium-based plan enrollees who meet clinical criteria, have a network provider’s prescription, and obtain prior authorization. 

For TFL beneficiaries, there is an important exception for those with type 2 diabetes. GLP-1 medications such as Trulicity, Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Victoza remain covered when medically necessary and prescribed to treat diabetes. Coverage requires prior authorization, and some drugs may require an additional medical necessity form to qualify for formulary copayments or military pharmacy dispensing. Existing cost-shares for diabetes-related prescriptions remain unchanged. 

Beginning Aug. 31, 2025, the Defense Health Agency will implement new regulatory controls on weight loss medication coverage. For those in eligible plans, existing prior authorizations for weight loss drugs will no longer be valid after this date, and beneficiaries must revisit their provider to discuss coverage or alternative options. For TFL beneficiaries seeking weight loss support, TRICARE will instead cover non-drug approaches, including nutrition counseling, lifestyle changes, exercise programs, and other clinically appropriate methods recommended by a provider. 

TFL members are encouraged to use the TRICARE Formulary Search Tool to confirm coverage details, review costs, and identify any required authorizations. For more information, beneficiaries should speak with their health care provider about covered treatment options and healthy lifestyle strategies to meet their wellness goals. 

VA Extends Community Care Authorizations
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced a significant change to improve Veterans’ access to specialty health care. New VA community care authorizations will now last one full year for 30 standardized types of care, ensuring uninterrupted treatment at VA expense before reauthorization is required. 

Previously, some VA community care referrals were reevaluated every 90 to 180 days. This process often increased the risk of delayed or interrupted care, adding stress for Veterans and additional administrative work for VA staff and community providers. The new policy is designed to streamline care coordination and allow Veterans to focus on their health instead of navigating frequent renewals. 

“This change means better continuity of care, which leads to better health outcomes,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins. “It also improves convenience for Veterans and cuts administrative work for VA staff and community care partners.” By reducing red tape, the VA aims to make community care both more efficient and more effective. 

The 30 services now eligible for yearlong authorization include cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, mental health outpatient care, oncology, orthopedic care, pain management, podiatry, pulmonary, rheumatology, sleep medicine, urology, and more. Community providers will have greater flexibility to manage Veterans’ care without administrative disruptions. 

Veterans with questions about how this change may affect their care are encouraged to contact their local VA Medical Center Community Care Office. This update is part of VA’s ongoing efforts to improve access, convenience, and quality of care for the nation’s Veterans. 

DPAA Updates Families on MIAs Efforts
More than 400 family members of U.S. service members still missing from the Korean War and Cold War gathered in Arlington for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency’s (DPAA) annual briefing. The event provided case updates, information on recovery operations, and a chance for families to connect with others who share their experience. Nearly 7,500 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War, with about 125 missing from Cold War missions. 

DPAA Director Kelly McKeague emphasized the importance of maintaining open communication with families. “Part of this is obviously … us being able to connect and communicate with them, to provide them updates on their cases,” McKeague said. He noted that while most countries cooperate with U.S. recovery efforts, including former adversaries like Japan, Germany, and Vietnam, North Korea remains unwilling to grant access for recovery operations, despite repeated outreach. 

Even so, DPAA continues its global mission, currently operating in 46 countries. McKeague highlighted cooperation with China, where a team has been working for four weeks on Korean War air loss cases despite ongoing geopolitical tensions. “China looks at this as an opportunity to cooperate [and] further the bilateral relationship, as well as develop people-to-people ties,” he said. 

A major advancement this year is the use of a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) assay for DNA analysis, which has been in use since January 2024. Tim McMahon, director of DOD DNA Operations, said the new process significantly improves the ability to match remains to family reference samples, increasing the likelihood of positive identifications. This technology has already contributed to the identification of the 750th Korean War service member since DPAA began its work on these losses. 

“750 families now have answers. That’s something that we’re very proud of,” McKeague said. Secretary Pete Hegseth recently announced the identification of the 100th U.S. service member from remains returned by North Korea in 2018, calling the effort “our nation’s sacred duty.” Families seeking more information on missing personnel cases can visit the DPAA website or attend future briefings for updates. 

VA Ends Most Union Contracts 
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced the termination of collective bargaining agreements for most bargaining-unit employees, in accordance with a presidential executive order that excludes certain federal agencies from labor-management relations programs. The decision affects employees represented by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), National Association of Government Employees (NAGE), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU), and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Contracts covering VA police officers, firefighters, and security guards will remain in place, as those positions are exempt from the order. 

According to the VA, the move is intended to allow leaders greater flexibility in hiring, promoting, and holding employees accountable, while redirecting resources and staff time to direct service for veterans. The department reports that in 2024, bargaining-unit employees collectively spent more than 750,000 hours on taxpayer-funded union time, and that over 187,000 square feet of VA office and clinical space was provided for union use at no cost. 

The VA stated that this change will enable managers to make personnel decisions based on veterans’ needs without the constraints of labor contract provisions. The department also indicated that eliminating certain collective bargaining obligations may allow more staff time to be spent in direct service to veterans. 

While the VA maintains that these actions will improve services, the decision has generated strong reactions from union organizations representing affected employees. These groups have expressed concern over the impact on workers’ rights, employment protections, and workplace advocacy. As with prior VA workforce policy changes, outcomes will likely be closely monitored in the months ahead to assess operational impacts. 

FRA will be monitoring this change and will provide feedback to both Congress and the VA based on reports from veterans about whether this policy affects the quality and timeliness of the services they receive.