VA would share veterans' opioid records with outside doctors under new bill
In committeeH.R. 8679Latest action
Sponsor: Mike Collins · Representative · GA
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to transmit a veteran's history of opioid prescriptions to a Community Care health care provider.
119th Congress
Topics: Security & foreign affairs
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
The plain-language version comes first. The official text is always the reference.
HR 8679 requires the VA to send a veteran's opioid prescription history to non-VA doctors treating them through Community Care.
45-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
HR 8679 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to share a veteran's opioid prescription history with outside doctors when that veteran receives care through the VA's Community Care program. The VA would transmit this information through a third-party administrator already used to help coordinate outside care. Currently, non-VA doctors in Community Care do not automatically receive a veteran's full prescription records from the VA.
Who does it affect?
This bill affects veterans who use the Community Care program to see doctors outside the VA system. It also affects the non-VA doctors who treat those veterans and receive the shared prescription records.
Why does it matter?
Outside doctors treating veterans through Community Care would have access to the veteran's opioid prescription history before providing new treatment. This could reduce the risk of dangerous drug interactions or duplicate opioid prescriptions.
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Read the official bill on Congress.govMake the call
Where does it stand?
- IntroducedMay 7, 2026
- House committeeYou are here · May 7, 2026
- House vote
- Senate
- The president's desk
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.