On Oct. 9, U.S. Senator Mark Warner signed legislation reforming the way the Department of Veteran Affairs prescribes opioid medication, according to Newsplex.com.
Here are five notes:
1. The bill was created and named after a U.S. Marine who died at a VA medical center last year after taking 13 prescribed medications in a 24-hour period.
2. Senators Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Shelly Moore Capito of West Virginia introduced the legislation.
3. Senator Warner stated the bill will enhance pain management services, improve the VA's opioid prescribing guidelines and will add accountability at the VA to prevent more casualties.
4. The bill will have stricter standards against prescribing dangerous combinations of opioids with other drugs and will enhance coordination and communication through the VA with medical facilities, providers, patients and their families about pain management.
5. The legislation aims to increase patient advocacy, expand access to complementary and integrative health and wellness as well as improve VA hiring and internal audits.
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