(Concord, NH) – Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), the founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force and a member of House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, released the following statement on a report issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General that shows veterans that receive healthcare outside of the VA are at an increased risk of misusing prescription opioids:

“Sadly, the opioid epidemic is impacting all segments of our population including veterans,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “This report underscores the need to improve not only prescription drug monitoring programs within the VA, but also the desperate need to update VA’s woefully inadequate electronic health records system. If veterans’ health records are more easily transferred between both VA and non-VA medical providers it will improve health outcomes for veterans. Additionally, we need to work together to improve the VA Choice Program so that veterans are able to access quality providers whose care is more effectively integrated with the VA system.”

Kuster recently included amendments in the House passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to improve the Department of Defense (DoD) response to opioid misuse and address the Department of Veteran Affairs’ (VA) outdated electronic record system.

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