U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, led a hearing in Washington to review the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) prescription practices for veterans with mental health conditions. The session included testimony from representatives of the VA, the VA Inspector General Office, the U.S. Government Accountability Office, and the Wounded Warrior Project.
Senator Moran emphasized the nation's responsibility to provide veterans with safe and effective care through the VA. “As a nation, we owe veterans the assurance of receiving safe, high-quality, and effective care through the Department of Veterans Affairs,” said Sen. Moran. “This includes making certain that the medications they are being prescribed are designed to support their recovery from trauma, pain and mental health challenges and are being paired correctly with the right support systems.”
He also addressed concerns about medication safety for veterans. “Medication is critical to the overall care and well-being of many veterans and nothing from today’s hearing should suggest that veterans should hesitate to seek treatment or that evidence-based medications are unsafe or unwelcome in any way,” continued Sen. Moran. “Over the past decade, VA has made significant progress in reducing opioid prescriptions through promoting safer options, expanding programs that support holistic health, and implementing new oversight measures to identify high-risk medication combinations. This hearing, however, provides an opportunity to assess progress, discuss effective strategies, and identify gaps that still remain.”
The hearing follows recent coverage by The Wall Street Journal highlighting issues with coordination and management of medications for veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injuries, depression, and anxiety.
Recordings of Senator Moran’s remarks and his questioning during the hearing are available online.
