{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.kelly.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/kelly-capito-shaheen-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-increase-veterans-access-to-non-opioid-treatments/", "Kelly, Capito, Shaheen Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Increase Veterans\u2019 Access to Non-Opioid Treatments", "2025-11-20", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "AZ", "Mark Kelly", "K000377", "www.kelly.senate.gov", "markkelly", "https://www.kelly.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "Today, Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), a retired Navy combat veteran, joined Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) in introducing the Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction in the Nation (NOPAIN) for Veterans Act, bipartisan legislation to expand veteran access to non-opioid alternatives by providing pathways for FDA-approved non-opioid treatments to be included in the VA National Formulary (VANF).\n\nThis legislation builds on Kelly\u2019s Alternatives to Prevent Addiction in the Nation (Alternatives to PAIN) Act, bipartisan legislation introduced earlier this year that would provide greater access to non-opioid treatments for pain management for seniors.\n\n\u201cToo many veterans have been affected by the opioid epidemic, and they need care that puts their health and safety first. Veterans dealing with pain should have real options, not a system that pushes them toward opioids simply because alternatives are harder to access,\u201d said Kelly. \u201cExpanding access to proven non-opioid treatments is a commonsense way to support veterans\u2019 health and prevent addiction.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur veterans deserve the very best care we can provide, including safe and effective options to manage pain without exposing them to unnecessary risk,\u201d said Capito. \u201cBy ensuring FDA-approved non-opioid treatments are included on the VA National Formulary, our legislation will make these alternatives easier to prescribe and easier for veterans to access.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn New Hampshire, we\u2019re finally seeing the tide turn on the opioid epidemic through declining overdose deaths, and that progress has been fueled in part by policies that encourage doctors to prescribe alternatives to opioids for patients struggling with pain management,\u201d said Shaheen. \u201cLast year, CMS implemented the legislation Senator Capito and I got signed into law that encourages use of non-opioid treatments for Medicare patients struggling with pain management \u2013 and our veterans deserve equal access to these non-opioid treatment options. This bipartisan legislation would advance veteran health care by maximizing access to safe, effective FDA-approved non-opioid alternatives and furthering efforts to tackle the opioid epidemic.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nDespite the existence of safe and effective, FDA-approved non-opioid alternatives\n\nfor postoperative and acute pain, legislation is needed to ensure that veterans have access to them through the VANF.\n\nIn late 2022, the NOPAIN Act was signed into law to expand Medicare enrollee access to non-opioid alternatives for postoperative pain. This legislation would similarly expand access within the VA system.\n\nIn addition to Kelly, Capito and Shaheen, the NOPAIN for Veterans Act is Cosponsored by Senators Katie Britt (R-AL), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Jim Justice (R-WV), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Tim Scott (R-SC), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).\n\nThe NOPAIN for Veterans Act is endorsed by the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), The American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America, and Voices for Non-Opioid Choices.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.kelly.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/kelly-capito-shaheen-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-increase-veterans-access-to-non-opioid-treatments/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.6887039635330439, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}