"To ensure veterans have the same access, Congress
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https://landsman.house.gov
Landsman, Van Orden Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Veterans Access to Non-Opioid Medications
Dec 12, 2024
Press
Servicemembers & Veterans
Cincinnati, OH – Today, Congressman Greg Landsman (D-OH-01) and Congressman Derrick Van Orden (R-WI-03) introduced commonsense legislation to increase veterans access to non-opioid pain medications.
The opioid epidemic has impacted every demographic in the United States. In response, Congress passed the Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction in the Nation (NOPAIN) Act in 2022 so seniors on Medicare have access to and never pay more for non-opioid pain management medications.
To ensure veterans have the same access, Congressman Landsman and Congressman Van Orden introduced the NOPAIN for Veterans Act – legislation that would reform the way the Department of Veterans Affairs offers and covers non-opioid pain management drugs.
The NOPAIN for Veterans Act would require that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs list and cover all non-opioid pain management drugs under VA pharmacy benefits. It would also mandate that these drugs be included on the VA Drug Standardization List, preventing them from being substituted with alternatives.
Congressman Landsman:
“By making non-opioid pain management options more affordable and available to veterans, we can take a big step in preventing addiction and substance abuse. These lists will provide safer alternatives, prioritize the health of veterans, and contribute to the overall effort of ending the opioid epidemic.”
Congressman Van Orden:
“Veterans deserve the best care possible, and that does not include getting them addicted to opioids with overly aggressive pain management treatments. The men and women who have bravely served our nation deserve better. That is why I am proud to join Congressman Landsman in introducing the NOPAIN for Veterans Act so veterans can access safe, effective treatments that provide relief without running the risks associated with opioid prescriptions.”
Tom Synan, Newtown Chief of Police and Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Hamilton County Addition Response Coalition:
“I have seen firsthand how the opioid epidemic has affected our area. Cincinnati was one of the hardest hit areas in the country by the opioid epidemic. Although we have had a reduction in overdose deaths, there are still too many people, including our veterans, who are suffering. As a veteran, I applaud Congressman Landsman and Congressman Van Orden for introducing this legislation, which will provide greater access to FDA-approved non-opioids to my fellow veterans and give them a choice instead of opioids and reduce the amount of opioids in our communities.”
Chris Fox, Executive Director of Voices for Non-Opioid Choices:
“Voices believes that all patients in all settings should be afforded access to all FDA-approved and clinically appropriate non-opioids. This is especially true for those who so bravely served this country in our military. We must do better by them and, when it comes to pain management, it means that they deserve access to the full suite of non-addictive pain management options.”
The full text of the NOPAIN for Veterans Act can be found here.