Today the House passed the Conference Report for the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included an amendment authored by Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) that will direct the Department of Defense (DoD) to study the opioid prescribing practices and training of DoD physicians. The DoD is one of the largest healthcare providers in the United States and improving prescribing practices would provide critical lessons that could be transferred to the larger medical community and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Kuster is the founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force, which brings together Members of Congress to address the opioid epidemic.

“As one of the largest healthcare providers, the DoD has the potential to be a leader in changing how we manage chronic and acute pain,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “We know that the irresponsible prescribing of prescription opioids has helped fuel the heroin and opioid epidemic that’s impacting communities throughout New Hampshire and the country. Reining in the prescribing of opioids and identifying effective and safe alternatives to treat pain will be an important part of addressing this crisis. I’m pleased that my amendment was included in the NDAA and will continue to look for opportunities to work across the aisle to take on the opioid epidemic.”

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