President Obama Signs Senator Baldwin’s Bipartisan VA Reforms into Law
Senator Tammy Baldwin's office issued this press release Friday:
For Immediate Release
Friday, July 22, 2016
Contact: press@baldwin.senate.gov
(202) 224 – 6225
President Obama Signs Senator Baldwin’s Bipartisan VA Reforms into Law
VA reforms from Jason Simcakoski Memorial Opioid Safety Act become law
Baldwin’s
bipartisan VA reforms named for Wisconsin Marine will strengthen opioid
prescribing guidelines, put in place stronger oversight and
accountability, and provide safer and more effective pain management
services for our nation’s veterans
WASHINGTON,
D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin released the following statement today
after President Obama signed into law bipartisan VA reforms that
Senator Baldwin authored in the Jason Simcakoski Memorial Opioid Safety Act (S.1641).
Baldwin’s VA reforms were included in the Comprehensive Addiction and
Recovery Act, which passed the Senate last week.
“I’m proud to
have worked with the Simcakoski family to introduce these VA reforms.
We earned bipartisan support in Congress and I’m very pleased President
Obama has signed them into law,” said Senator Baldwin.
“Our VA reforms will strengthen the Department of Veterans Affairs’
opioid prescribing guidelines and put in place stronger oversight and
accountability for the quality of care that we are providing our
veterans. My goal is to prevent Jason’s tragedy from happening to other
veterans and their families. We
have made these reforms a reality and moved closer to achieving our
goal of safer and more effective pain management services for our
nation’s veterans.”
Senator Baldwin’s Jason Simcakoski Memorial Opioid Safety Act,
authored in close consultation with medical professionals, veterans
service organizations, and the Simcakoski family, 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;
· Increasing
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 GAO reviews and VA reports to Congress.
In addition to improving opioid therapy and pain management, the Jason Simcakoski Memorial Opioid Safety Act strengthens
the VA’s patient advocacy program by ensuring advocates are independent
and truly work for veterans, expands access to complementary and
integrative health and wellness, and enhances VA hiring practices to
help prevent bad doctors from treating veterans.
Senator
Baldwin’s bipartisan legislation has 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), Military Order of the Purple Heart, American Society of
Addiction Medicine (ASAM), National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI),
the Wisconsin Medical Society, Trust for America's Health (TFAH), Harm
Reduction Coalition, and the National Safety Council.
The legislation signed by President Obama also includes Senator
Baldwin’s bipartisan bill with Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) to make
naloxone rescue kits more affordable and accessible to our nation’s
veterans by eliminating veteran copayments for naloxone.
An online version of this release is available here.
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