,i  #aad? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #ehdb  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,july #ad1 #bjaf,ms4  
,ku/] 7= h]self & ,mr4 ,c(fman7         
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to
 ! ,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a 
,,bill  ,to direct ! ,secret>y (        
,vet]ans ,affairs to c>ry out a pilot   
program to improve treatm5t = vet]ans   
suff]+ f opioid addiction & *ronic pa91 
& = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is 
,act may be cit$ z ! ,help+ ,our        
,vet]ans ) ,*ronic ,pa9 & ,opioid       
,addiction ,act ( #bjaf4  #b4 ,f9d+s2   
s5se ( ,congress  7a7 ,f9d+s ,congress  
makes ! foll[+ f9d+s3  7#a7 ,_m vet]ans 
& _! families h be5 affect$ by !        
national opioid epidemic caus$ 9 "p by !
 prescription ( opioid m$ication to     
manage pa94  7#b7 ,prescription opioid  
ov]dose rates = vet]ans receiv+ m$ical  
c>e furni%$ by ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans   
,affairs are twice ! national av]age4   
7#c7 ,m ?an #ej p]c5t ( vet]ans receiv+ 
su* c>e are suff]+ f *ronic pa94  7#d7  

,almo/ "o 9 ?ree vet]ans receiv+ su* c>e
 are prescrib$ opioids to manage pa94   
7#e7 ,_m vet]ans prescrib$ opioids = !  
managem5t ( *ronic pa9 are at risk (    
develop+ a dep5d5cy on opioids4  7#f7   
,_m vet]ans receive heal? c>e f bo? !   
,dep>tm5t & community provid]s b ! lack 
( c>e coord9ation among ! ,dep>tm5t &   
community provid]s :5 vet]ans receive   
pur*as$ c>e places vet]ans at risk =    
poor heal? outcomes & results 9         
ineffici5t use ( f9ite heal? c>e        
res\rces4  7#g7 ,vet]an-c5tric c>e      
coord9ation is associat$ ) improv$      
pati5t outcomes1 z ,dep>tm5t &          
non-,dep>tm5t heal? c>e teams coord9ate 
& collaborate to provide ! be/ c>e =    
vet]ans4  7b7 ,s5se ( ,congress ,x is ! 
s5se ( ,congress t-- 7#a7 vet]ans suff]+
 f opioid dep5d5cy %\ld receive timely  
access to treatm5t & social s]vices at  
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs facilities
 or ?r\gh qualifi$ community provid]s & 
%\ld h c>e & s]vices manag$ & coord9at$ 
by ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs2     

7#b7 vet]ans :o are au?oriz$ by !       
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs to receive
 opioid addiction treatm5t 9 ! community
 mu/ n lose ! high quality1 safety1 c>e 
coord9ation1 & o!r vet]an-c5tric elem5ts
 t ! heal? c>e sy/em ( ! ,dep>tm5t (    
,vet]ans ,affairs provides2 &  7#c7 if !
 ,secret>y pur*ases c>e = vet]ans f a   
community provid]1 su* c>e mu/ be secur$
 9 a co/-effective mann]1 9 a way t     
complem5ts ! l>g] heal? c>e sy/em ( !   
,dep>tm5t by us+ indu/ry /&>ds = c>e &  
co/s4  #c4 ,pilot program to improve    
treatm5t = vet]ans suff]+ f opioid      
addiction & *ronic pa9  7a7 ,9 g5]al    
,beg9n+ n lat] ?an #abj days aft] ! date
 ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y ( 
,vet]ans ,affairs %all conduct a pilot  
program "u :i* ! ,secret>y provides     
heal? & social s]vices & coord9ation (  
c>e & case managem5t to cov]$ vet]ans 9 
ne$ ( treatm5t = opioid addiction &     
*ronic pa9 ?r\gh facilities ( !         
,dep>tm5t & ?r\gh qualifi$ non-,dep>tm5t
 heal? c>e provid]s4  7b7 ,program      

locations  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! pilot       
program %all be c>ri$ out )9 at lea/    
five areas )9 diff]5t ,/ates4  7#b7     
,selection  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y  
%all select five ,/ates ) ,dep>tm5t     
m$ical facilities to p>ticipate 9 !     
pilot program4 ,ea* ( ! five ,dep>tm5t  
facilities select$ %all be locat$ 9     
,/ates t demon/rate--  7i7 ! ne$ =      
additional res\rces to provide heal? c>e
 s]vices1 includ+ m5tal heal?1 *ronic   
pa9 managem5t & social s]vices to       
vet]ans 9 ne$ ( treatm5t = opioid abuse 
bas$ ^u ! community assessm5t 9         
subsection 7a7 ( ?is section2  7ii7     
demographic1 population1 & c5sus data   
%[+ ! highe/ rates p] capita ( opioid   
addiction 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates or great]   
dem& 9 ! vet]an pati5t population ?an   
capacity 9 facilities ( ! ,dep>tm5t =   
treatm5t = opioid addiction2 &  7iii7   
lack ( suffici5t ,dep>tm5t capacity to  
meet ! dem& ( all pati5ts 9 ne$ (       
treatm5t = opioid addiction4  7,b7 ,o!r 
requirem5ts ,9 addition to ! requirem5ts

 9 subp>agraph 7,a71 n few] ?an f\r ( ! 
five select$ ,/ates %all include--  7i7 
at lea/ "o highly rural c\nty1 z det]m9$
 by ! ,secret>y ^u consid]ation ( ! mo/ 
rec5t dec5nial c5sus ) ! highe/ p]      
capita rate ( opioid addiction2  7ii7 an
 urban c\nty z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y ^u
 consid]ation ( ! mo/ rec5t dec5nial    
c5sus ) ! l>ge/ population p] capita (  
opioid addiction2  7iii7 a c\nty z      
det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y 9 a ,/ate ) "o ( 
! highe/ /ati/ically significant drug & 
opioid ov]dose dea? rate increases f    
#bjac to #bjad accord+ to ! ,c5t]s =    
,disease ,control & ,prev5tion & a l[   
exp5diture ( fund+ p] capita on sub/ance
 abuse treatm5t 9 comp>ison to o!r      
,/ates2 &  7iv7 a c\nty z det]m9$ by !  
,secret>y 9 a ,/ate ) a high rate p]    
capita ( vet]ans diagnos$ ) *ronic pa9 &
 prescrib$ prescription opioids4  7c7   
,provision ( s]vices ?r\gh contract ,!  
,secret>y may provide heal? c>e s]vices 
to vet]ans "u ! pilot program by ent]+  
into contracts ) non-,dep>tm5t heal? c>e

 provid]s :i* are qualifi$ to provide   
su* s]vices1 z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y4  
7d7 ,ex*ange ( m$ical in=mation ,9      
conduct+ ! pilot program "u ?is section1
 ! ,secret>y %all develop & use a       
functional capability to provide = !    
ex*ange ( appropriate m$ical in=mation  
betwe5 ! ,dep>tm5t & any non-,dep>tm5t  
provid] ) :i* ! ,secret>y ent]s into a  
contract "u subsection 7c74  7e7 ,report
 ,n lat] ?an ! #cj days aft] ! end ( ea*
 ye> 9 :i* ! pilot program "u ?is       
section is conduct$1 ! ,secret>y %all   
submit to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'     
,affairs ( ! ,s5ate & ! ,committee on   
,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,h\se (          
,repres5tatives a report :i* includes-- 
7#a7 ! assessm5t ( ! ,secret>y ( ! pilot
 program dur+ ! prec$+ ye>1 includ+ its 
co/1 volume1 quality1 pati5t            
satisfaction1 b5efit to vet]ans1 & su*  
o!r f9d+s & conclusions ) respect to !  
pilot program z ! ,secret>y consid]s    
appropriate2 &  7#b7 su* recomm5dations 
z ! ,secret>y consid]s appropriate      

reg>d+-- 7,a7 ! cont9uation ( ! pilot   
program2  7,b7 ext5sion ( ! pilot       
program to additional ,vet]ans          
,integrat$ ,s]vice ,networks ( !        
,dep>tm5t2 &  7,c7 mak+ ! pilot program 
p]man5t4  7f7 ,cov]$ vet]an ,9 ?is      
section1 ! t]m cov]$ vet]an means a     
vet]an :o--  7#a7 is enroll$ 9 ! sy/em (
 pati5t enrollm5t e/abli%$ "u section   
#agje7;a7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates    
,code1 z ( ! date ( ! comm5cem5t ( !    
pilot program "u subsection 7a77#b72    
7#b7 is eligible = heal? c>e "u section 
#agaj7;e77#c77;,c7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$  
,/ates ,code2 or  7#c7 is det]m9$ by !  
,secret>y to be 9 ne$ ( treatm5t =      
opioid addiction & *ronic pa94  7g7     
,t]m9ation ,! au?ority to c>ry out a    
pilot program "u ?is section %all       
t]m9ate on ! date t is ?ree ye>s aft] ! 
date ( ! comm5cem5t ( ! pilot program4  
#d4 ,assessm5t ( ,dep>tm5t &            
non-,dep>tm5t capabilities to treat     
opioid dep5d5cy & ensure access to ne$$ 
heal? c>e s]vices  7a7 ,assessm5t (     

,dep>tm5t capabilities ,! ,secret>y %all
 conduct an assessm5t ( ! capabilities (
 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 us+   
su* data1 includ+ demographic data &    
pati5t access data1 z ! ,secret>y       
det]m9es necess>y to provide--  7#a7    
heal? c>e s]vices relat$ to ! treatm5t (
 opioid dep5d5cy & abuse1 includ+ m5tal 
heal?1 opioid agoni/ treatm5t1 social   
s]vices1 & non-opioid *ronic pa9        
managem5t necess>y = treat+ opioid      
addiction nationally1 regionally1 &     
locally2  7#b7 managem5t ( *ronic pa9   
)\t ! long-t]m use ( opioids1 includ+   
alt]native !rapies su* z physical !rapy1
 *iropractic c>e1 acupuncture1 massage1 
ex]cise programs1 & o!r su* evid5ce-bas$
 & exp]im5tal treatm5ts2  7#c7          
evid5ce-bas$ me?ods = safely r$uc+ !    
dose & duration ( ! prescription (      
opioids = pati5ts2  7#d7 me?ods by :i*  
heal? c>e s]vices are coord9at$ by !    
,dep>tm5t :5 c>e is provid$ by community
 provid]s2 &  7#e7 ! mann] by :i* !     
,dep>tm5t ensures placem5t ( vet]ans 9  

ne$ ( treatm5t = opioid dep5d5cy 9      
treatm5t programs )9 a cl9ically        
suffici5t "t p]iod accord+ to publi%$   
practice guidel9es = ! treatm5t (       
pati5ts ) opioid dep5d5cy4  7b7         
,assessm5t ( non-,dep>tm5t capabilities 
,9 addition to ! assessm5t requir$ "u   
subsection 7a71 ! ,secret>y %all        
concurr5tly conduct an assessm5t (      
community provid]s to provide heal? c>e1
 m5tal heal?1 social s]vices1 &         
alt]native *ronic pa9 managem5t         
treatm5ts necess>y = ! treatm5t (       
vet]ans diagnos$ ) an opioid addiction &
 = ! treatm5t ( vet]ans suff]+ f *ronic 
pa94  7c7 ,community provid]s ,9 ?is    
section1 ! t]m community provid] means a
 non-,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs heal?
 c>e provid] or social s]vices provid]  
det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y z capable (      
provid+ heal? c>e s]vices relat$ to !   
treatm5t ( opioid dep5d5cy & abuse1     
includ+ m5tal heal?1 opioid agoni/      
treatm5t1 social s]vices1 & non-opioid  
*ronic pa9 managem5t4  7d7 ,report ,at !

 conclusion ( ! assessm5ts conduct$ "u  
?is section1 & n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! 
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !         
,secret>y %all submit to ! ,committees  
on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,s5ate & ,h\se
 ( ,repres5tatives a compreh5sive summ>y
 ( ! results ( ! assessm5ts1 includ+ any
 implem5tation plans result+ f su*      
assessm5ts1 & any recomm5dations = ways 
to bett] enable ! ,dep>tm5t to provide  
heal? c>e s]vices )9 ! programs &       
facilities ( ! ,dep>tm5t & 9 coord9ation
 ) community provid]s to vet]ans ne$+   
treatm5t = pa9 managem5t & opioid       
addiction4  #e4 ,increas$ access to     
naloxone & o!r treatm5ts = rev]s+ opioid
 ov]dose  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y (   
,vet]ans ,affairs %all require all      
appropriate heal? c>e facilities ( !    
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 & all    
,vet ,c5t]s & o!r ,dep>tm5t facilities  
provid+ m5tal heal? & social s]vices to 
vet]ans1 to h a supply ( naloxone or o!r
 m$ication = rev]s+ opioid ov]dose4  7b7
 ,tra9+ on use ( m$ication ,! ,secret>y 

%all ensure t all appropriate employees 
( ! ,dep>tm5t :o are employ$ at         
facilities ref]r$ to 9 subsection 7a7   
receive tra9+ on ! adm9i/ration (       
naloxone or o!r m$ication = rev]s+      
opioid ov]dose4