Senate Hearing on VA Opioid Prescription Policies
January 1, 2016
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The Frame
The hearing examines how the VA manages pain medication for veterans, which directly impacts the clinical standards, safety protocols, and access to pain management services for millions of veterans nationwide.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
Veterans
Veterans receiving care through the VA are subject to the agency's pain management and opioid prescription policies.
Veterans Health Administration
The agency is responsible for implementing and adjusting clinical guidelines for opioid prescriptions based on committee oversight.
Last recorded activity January 1, 2016.
Next step not available in the current record.
Summary
Key Facts
- The hearing was held on March 26, 2015, by the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- The primary subject was the policy, practice, and procedures of the VA regarding opioid prescriptions.
- The committee established new rules requiring opening remarks to be limited to the Chairman and Ranking Member, with other members providing remarks at the end of the hearing.
- Senators Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin were invited to participate due to specific concerns regarding opioid over-prescription in Wisconsin.
- Witnesses included representatives from the Veterans Health Administration, the VA Office of Inspector General, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Kaiser Permanente, and the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the purpose of this hearing?
Who testified at the hearing?
Why It Matters
The hearing examines how the VA manages pain medication for veterans, which directly impacts the clinical standards, safety protocols, and access to pain management services for millions of veterans nationwide.
News Coverage
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Increased Congressional Oversight
The hearing demonstrates a specific focus on regional opioid issues, as evidenced by the inclusion of Wisconsin senators due to local concerns.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment20Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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