Kelly, Capito, Shaheen Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Increase Veterans’ Access to Non-Opioid Treatments
Today, Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), a retired Navy combat veteran, joined Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) in introducing the Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction in the Nation (NOPAIN) for Veterans Act, bipartisan legislation to expand veteran access to non-opioid alternatives by providing pathways for FDA-approved non-opioid treatments to be included in the VA National Formulary (VANF).
This legislation builds on Kelly’s Alternatives to Prevent Addiction in the Nation (Alternatives to PAIN) Act, bipartisan legislation introduced earlier this year that would provide greater access to non-opioid treatments for pain management for seniors.
“Too many veterans have been affected by the opioid epidemic, and they need care that puts their health and safety first. Veterans dealing with pain should have real options, not a system that pushes them toward opioids simply because alternatives are harder to access,” said Kelly. “Expanding access to proven non-opioid treatments is a commonsense way to support veterans’ health and prevent addiction.”
“Our veterans deserve the very best care we can provide, including safe and effective options to manage pain without exposing them to unnecessary risk,” said Capito. “By ensuring FDA-approved non-opioid treatments are included on the VA National Formulary, our legislation will make these alternatives easier to prescribe and easier for veterans to access.”
“In New Hampshire, we’re finally seeing the tide turn on the opioid epidemic through declining overdose deaths, and that progress has been fueled in part by policies that encourage doctors to prescribe alternatives to opioids for patients struggling with pain management,” said Shaheen. “Last year, CMS implemented the legislation Senator Capito and I got signed into law that encourages use of non-opioid treatments for Medicare patients struggling with pain management – and our veterans deserve equal access to these non-opioid treatment options. This bipartisan legislation would advance veteran health care by maximizing access to safe, effective FDA-approved non-opioid alternatives and furthering efforts to tackle the opioid epidemic.”
Background:
Despite the existence of safe and effective, FDA-approved non-opioid alternatives
for postoperative and acute pain, legislation is needed to ensure that veterans have access to them through the VANF.
In late 2022, the NOPAIN Act was signed into law to expand Medicare enrollee access to non-opioid alternatives for postoperative pain. This legislation would similarly expand access within the VA system.
In addition to Kelly, Capito and Shaheen, the NOPAIN for Veterans Act is Cosponsored by Senators Katie Britt (R-AL), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Jim Justice (R-WV), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Tim Scott (R-SC), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).
The NOPAIN for Veterans Act is endorsed by the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), The American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America, and Voices for Non-Opioid Choices.
Read the full bill text here.
