Today the bipartisan VA Prescription Data Accountability Act introduced by Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) was unanimously approved by the House of Representatives. Kuster’s legislation would clarify current law to stipulate that the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is required to disclose information to state controlled substance monitoring programs for anyone – veteran or non-veteran – who is prescribed these medications through VA. The legislation will next need to be passed by the Senate.

“This bill demonstrates the power of bipartisanship in the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “The VA Prescription Accountability Act is commonsense and will improve prescription drug monitoring, which we know is an important resource in combating the nation’s opioid epidemic. I’m pleased that my colleagues in the VA Committee and the full House agree, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to take up this legislation in short order.”

Under current law, when VHA providers prescribe a controlled substance, VHA is required to disclose that information to the appropriate state controlled substance monitoring program. Due to VistA’s inability to differentiate between dependents and other non-veterans, VHA is currently only transmitting data for veteran patients, leaving out approximately 10% of VHA’s patient population who are dependents or other non-veterans who meet certain qualifications to receive prescriptions from VHA.

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