Van Orden, Landsman Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Veterans Access to Non-Opioid Medications

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) and Congressman Greg Landsman (D-OH) introduced legislation to increase veterans' access to non-opioid pain medications.

To ensure veterans have the same access, Congressman Van Orden and Congressman Landsman introduced the NOPAIN for Veterans Act, which reforms the way the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers and covers non-opioid pain management drugs. 

The NOPAIN for Veterans Act requires that VA 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.

“Veterans deserve the best care possible, and that does not include getting them addicted to opioids with overly aggressive pain management treatments,” said Rep. Van Orden. “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.”

“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,” said Rep. Landsman.

“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,” said Chris Fox, Executive Director of Voices for Non-Opioid Choices. 

The full text of the NOPAIN for Veterans Act can be found here.