[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 83 (Monday, May 21, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H4250-H4251]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
VETERANS OPIOID ABUSE PREVENTION ACT
Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 3832) to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into a
memorandum of understanding with the executive director of a national
network of State-based prescription monitoring programs under which
Department of Veterans Affairs health care providers shall query such
network, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3832
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Opioid Abuse
Prevention Act''.
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PARTICIPATION IN
NATIONAL NETWORK OF STATE-BASED PRESCRIPTION
DRUG MONITORING PROGRAMS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 17 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended by inserting after section 1730A the
following new section:
``Sec. 1730B. Access to State prescription drug monitoring
programs
``(a) Access to Programs.--(1) Any licensed health care
provider or delegate of such a provider shall be considered
an authorized recipient or user for the purpose of querying
and receiving data from the national network of State-based
prescription drug monitoring programs to support the safe and
effective prescribing of controlled substances to covered
patients.
``(2) Under the authority granted by paragraph (1)--
``(A) licensed health care providers or delegates of such
providers shall query such network in accordance with
applicable regulations and policies of the Veterans Health
Administration; and
``(B) notwithstanding any general or specific provision of
law, rule, or regulation of a State, no State may restrict
the access of licensed health care providers or delegates of
such providers from accessing that State's prescription drug
monitoring programs.
``(3) No State shall deny or revoke the license,
registration, or certification of a licensed health care
provider or delegate who otherwise meets that State's
qualifications for holding the license, registration, or
certification on the basis that the licensed health care
provider or delegate has queried or received data, or attempt
to query or receive data, from the national network of State-
based prescription drug monitoring programs under this
section.
``(b) Covered Patients.--For purposes of this section, a
covered patient is a patient who--
``(1) receives a prescription for a controlled substance;
and
``(2) is not receiving palliative care or enrolled in
hospice care.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `controlled substance' has the meaning given
such term in section 102(6) of the Controlled Substances Act
(21 U.S.C. 802(6)).
``(2) The term `delegate' means a person or automated
system accessing the national network of State-based
prescription monitoring programs at the direction or under
the supervision of a licensed health care provider.
``(3) The term `licensed health care provider' means a
health care provider employed by the Department who is
licensed, certified, or registered within any State to fill
or prescribe medications within the scope of his or her
practice as a Department employee.
``(4) The term `national network of State-based
prescription monitoring programs' means an interconnected
nation-wide system that facilitates the transfer to State
prescription drug monitoring program data across State lines.
``(5) The term `State' means a State, as defined in section
101(20) of this title, or a political subdivision of a
State.''.
[[Page H4251]]
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 1730A the following new
item:
``1730B. Access to State prescription drug monitoring programs.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Dunn) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Walz) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
General Leave
Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have
5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and insert
extraneous material into the Record on H.R. 3832, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my legislation, H.R. 3832, as
amended, the Veterans Opioid Abuse Prevention Act. More than 140
individuals every day are dying from opioid abuse in the United States,
and opioids have resulted in the deaths of more Americans than the
Iraq, Afghanistan, and Vietnam wars put together over the same period
of time.
Unfortunately, the news is even worse for our veterans. Former VA
Secretary McDonald stated: Veterans are 10 times more likely to abuse
opioids than the average American, and that is among the leading cause
of homelessness among veterans.
In 2016 alone, the VA treated 66,000 veterans for opioid addiction.
Mr. Speaker, it is clear that we are failing our Nation's heroes, and,
frankly, that is unacceptable.
That is why I introduced the Veterans Opioid Prevention Act, to
ensure that no veteran slips through the cracks. My bill increases
opioid prescribing transparency at the VA and allows Veterans
Administration doctors to do what most private sector doctors are
already doing. They access State databases listing all opioid
prescriptions from all providers. This allows physicians to easily
identify patterns of opioid use that puts patients at risk for
addiction. Once physicians are able to accurately identify patterns of
use and abuse, we can curb this epidemic and ensure our veterans are
getting the best possible care.
Mr. Speaker, as a veteran and a doctor, I take my responsibility to
serve those who fought for our freedoms very seriously. We can do more
for our veterans, and we must do more to support them and to protect
them.
I believe my Veterans Opioid Prevention Act does exactly that. I urge
all of my colleagues to support this important legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the gentleman's Veterans
Opioid Abuse Prevention Act. It was about 10 years ago to the day that
we stood on this floor when I had a piece of legislation, one of the
first ones I authored as a Member of Congress, the stepped-care pain
management for the prescription of opioids in the VA, and I remember
delivering a speech right here that if we don't do something about what
is happening with the overprescription, we are going to be in a
situation of crisis, I think, were the terms that I used.
At that time, we started talking about multiple approaches to pain
management. At the time we brought it up, the VA did not even want to
consider things like acupuncture and yoga, and now we are at a
situation where the gentleman is exactly right. Even with that, moving
forward, according to the Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law,
between 2010 and 2015, the number of veterans addicted to opioids rose
55 percent to a total of roughly 68,000. This represents about 13
percent of all veterans currently prescribed opioids.
Various published studies have found that there is a significant
increased risk of suicide among our veterans and the general U.S.
population when opioid use disorders are apparent.
H.R. 3832, as amended, will require VA to enter into a memorandum of
understanding with a State-based prescription drug monitoring program
in order to further reduce opioid misuse and dependency.
By requiring VA to partner with the prescription drug program, the VA
can better ensure veterans are receiving the most appropriate treatment
available while significantly reducing the likelihood of abuse.
We have an ethical responsibility to do everything we can in this
country to reduce the opioid epidemic, certainly amongst our veterans.
It is a step in the right direction to prevent the overprescription of
opioids to veterans so that we can start preventing those veterans
becoming addicted in the first place. I stand in strong support of
this.
Mr. Speaker, as stated, this is a good piece of legislation, smart
move forward, and I encourage my colleagues to vote for it.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support
H.R. 3832, as amended.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3832,
the Veterans Opioid Abuse Prevention Act.
Mr. Speaker, it is undeniable that our military veterans deserve our
deepest gratitude for the courage and valor they demonstrate while
defending the United States of America.
H.R. 3832 directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into a
memorandum of understanding with the executive director of a national
network of State-based prescription monitoring programs under which
Department of Veterans Affairs health care providers shall query the
network in order to prevent opioid abuse.
Veterans are truly heroes walking among us and they deserve our
utmost respect as well as assistance in any recovery or treatment they
require.
Mr. Speaker, our veterans bravely put their lives on the line to
defend our freedoms and to keep our nation safe.
There are over 20 million veterans in the United States, with a large
number residing in my home state of Texas.
Texas has more than 1.4 million veterans, making it the state with
the second largest veteran population.
Harris County, the county which contains my district, is home to over
187,000 veterans, the most of any county in the state.
There is no doubt that these fearless men and women suffering from
burdensome health problems deserve not only our gratitude, but also our
support throughout recovery and treatment.
By passing H.R. 3832, health care providers will receive additional
information so they may provide veterans with assistance which will
enhance their rehabilitation.
This bill would enable the VA to monitor drug prescriptions in order
to ensure that veterans' risk of addiction is minimized.
The Veterans Opioid Abuse Prevention Act would allow VA providers to
better track and prevent excess opioid prescribing.
The provisions of this bill will serve as a vital resource to our
veterans and their health care providers as they overcome burdensome
health problems.
These provisions would help prevent opioid abuse by allowing for
greater information sharing between VA and state-based prescription
drug monitoring programs.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3832 to show their
support and gratitude for the sacrifices made by our service men and
women, and to ensure that veterans battling health problems receive the
care and rehabilitation they deserve.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Dunn) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 3832, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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