Proposed Pilot Program for Non-Opioid Pain Medication in VA Hospitals

The Frame

What this does

If enacted, this amendment would change how the VA manages pain medication for veterans by mandating the inclusion of non-opioid alternatives in its national drug list, potentially affecting treatment options and healthcare spending for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Department of Veterans Affairs

The agency is mandated to implement the pilot program, manage the formulary, and conduct required reporting.

Veterans

Veterans receiving pain management care through the VA may have different medication options available under the pilot program.

What changed

Last recorded activity June 24, 2026.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

Senate Amendment 6175 proposes a three-year pilot program requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to include specific non-opioid pain management medications in its . The program aims to evaluate the impact of these alternatives on opioid usage and overall healthcare costs for veterans.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the goal of this pilot program?

The program aims to test whether including non-opioid pain medications in the VA's reduces the use of opioids for veterans and impacts overall healthcare resource utilization.

How long will this program last?

The pilot program is scheduled to run for a three-year period.

Can the VA remove a drug from the program once it is added?

Yes, the VA Secretary must review the drugs annually and can remove them if significant side effects are discovered or if the drug's FDA approval status changes.

Why It Matters

If enacted, this amendment would change how the VA manages pain medication for veterans by mandating the inclusion of non-opioid alternatives in its national drug list, potentially affecting treatment options and healthcare spending for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Related Legislation

congressional_record

Senate Scheduling Update for S. 4784

The Senate has agreed to delay the vote on a cloture motion for S. 4784 until after the confirmation vote for the Schwartz nomination. This procedural

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Focus on Non-Opioid Alternatives

The amendment reflects a legislative shift toward mandating the integration of non-opioid pain management into federal healthcare systems to reduce reliance on opioids.

Department of Veterans Affairs Food and Drug Administration

Connected Entities

personMr. Justice“Co-sponsor of the amendment.”Map →

personMs. Rosen“Co-sponsor of the amendment.”Map →

personMrs. Capito“Lead sponsor of the amendment.”Map →

personMrs. Britt“Co-sponsor of the amendment.”Map →

personMrs. Shaheen“Co-sponsor of the amendment.”Map →

organizationFood and Drug Administration“Regulatory body for drug approval.”Map →

organizationDepartment of Veterans Affairs“The agency responsible for implementing the pilot program.”Map →

personMr. Booker“Co-sponsor of the amendment.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy20
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level