Senator Tammy Baldwin (above) is a US Senator from Wisconsin. Her office issued the following last week:
***MEDIA RELEASE***
For Immediate Release
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Contact:
press@baldwin.senate.gov
(202) 224-6225
Wisconsin Medical Society Supports Senator Baldwin’s Bipartisan VA Reform Legislation
Jason Simcakoski Memorial Opioid Safety Act would provide VA with the tools it needs to address the problem
of overprescribing practices
WASHINGTON,
D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today announced that the Wisconsin
Medical Society is supporting bipartisan VA reform legislation she has
introduced that
is aimed at providing safer and more effective pain management services
to our nation’s veterans.
"The
Wisconsin Medical Society appreciates Senator Baldwin's leadership in
introducing the Jason Simcakoski Memorial Opioid Safety Act and is proud
to support the bill.
There is an opioid public health crisis in Wisconsin and throughout the
country and this legislation makes important regulatory reforms in the
VA System to help ensure safer opioid prescribing for our veterans,”
said Donn Dexter, M.D. “Physicians stand ready to be part of the
solution, and as the Chief Medical Officer of the Wisconsin Medical
Society and a veteran, I am grateful Senator Baldwin is asking for
critical opioid reforms to happen in the VA System."
“I'm proud to have earned the support of the Wisconsin Medical Society for
this bipartisan reform. Families like the Simcakoski family have a story
to tell that needs to
be heard,” said Senator Baldwin. “After two, decade-long wars,
our veterans and their families are facing the difficult challenges of
physical injuries, addiction, PTSD and other mental illnesses. We must
find safer and more effective ways to confront
these problems to help them meet that challenge. My legislation
proposes a number of solutions to strengthen opioid prescribing
guidelines; improve coordination and communication throughout the VA;
and put in place stronger oversight and accountability for
the quality of care we are providing our veterans. My goal is to put
these reforms in place to prevent Jason’s tragedy from occurring to
other veterans and their families.”
Senator Baldwin’s
Jason Simcakoski Memorial Opioid Safety Act,
introduced in June with Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), was
produced in close consultation with medical professionals, veterans’
service organizations, and the Simcakoski family. The legislation
focuses on strengthening the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) opioid prescribing guidelines and improving pain
management services by putting the following reforms in place:
·
Requiring stronger
opioid prescribing guidelines and education for VA providers including
stricter standards against prescribing dangerous combinations of opioids
with other drugs and for prescribing opioids to patients struggling
with mental health issues;
·
Increased
coordination and communication throughout the VA with medical
facilities, providers, patients and their families surrounding pain
management, alternative
treatments for chronic pain, and appropriate opioid therapy; and
·
Holding the VA
system accountable for appropriate care and quality standards through
consistent internal audits as well as GAO reviews and reports to
Congress.
In addition to improving opioid therapy and pain management, the
Jason Simcakoski Memorial Opioid Safety Act helps strengthen
patient advocacy, expand access to complementary and integrative health
and wellness, and enhance VA hiring and internal audits.
Senator Baldwin’s bipartisan legislation has also
gained support from: Disabled American Veterans Wisconsin,
Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), The
American Legion, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), Veterans for
Common Sense, Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), Association
of the United States Navy (AUSN), Military Health Project, National
Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS), Military Officers
Association of America (MOAA), American Veterans (AMVETS), American
Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), National Alliance
on Mental Illness (NAMI), American Federation of Government Employees
(AFGE), and Trust for America's Health (TFAH).
In
the U.S. Senate, the Baldwin- Capito legislation is cosponsored by
Democrats and Republicans: U.S. Senate Assistant Democratic Leader Dick
Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member
of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, U.S. Senator Richard
Blumenthal (D-CT), and U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Al Franken
(D-MN), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy
Klobuchar (D-MN), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Ed Markey (D-MA),
Jerry Moran (R-KS), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jon
Tester (D-MT), and Mark Warner (D-VA).
"This
is an opportunity to take all of this and learn from it. We have a
chance to create a new path; or we can continue how we currently are and
keep making the same
mistakes we are today,” said Heather Simcakoski, Jason’s widow.
“When I look back at the past, I want to know we made a difference. I
want to believe we have leaders in our country who care. I want to
inspire others to never give up because change is
possible."
"This
legislation from Senator Baldwin is one of the most important actions
we can take to save the lives of our greatest assets, our veterans,” said Marv Simcakoski,
Jason’s father.
PHOTOS from press conference introducing legislation are
available here.
An online version of this release is available
here.
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