1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

As your constituent, I urge you to support H.R. 4509, the NOPAIN for Veterans Act, which would expand access to safe, non-opioid pain management options within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system. This bill would require VA to include Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved non-opioid medications and biological products in its national formulary, ensuring veterans have access to effective and less addictive alternatives for treating pain. By mandating the inclusion of these therapies, the bill seeks to improve the quality of pain care, reduce reliance on traditional opioid-based treatments, and provide veterans with the safest and most effective options available to manage acute and chronic pain. According to the VA Cooperative Studies Program Epidemiology Analytics Resource Fact Sheet (April 2022) on opioid-use—veterans face a significantly higher risk of opioid use disorder due to the increased prevalence of chronic pain, mental health conditions and social stressors. These findings underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive, nationwide pain management approach within VA. I urge you to support this important bill and become a cosponsor. Please advise me of your intentions regarding H.R. 4509, the NOPAIN for Veterans Act.