Veteran Prescription Safety Improvement Act

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 9178 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9178 To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve access of health care providers of the Department of Veterans Affairs to prescription drug monitoring programs, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 25, 2024 Mr. Zinke (for himself, Mr. Bost, Mr. Van Orden, and Mr. Ciscomani) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve access of health care providers of the Department of Veterans Affairs to prescription drug monitoring programs, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Veteran Prescription Safety Improvement Act''. SEC. 2. PRESCRIPTION DRUG MONITORING PROGRAMS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. (a) Expansion of Access of Health Care Providers of the Department.--Section 1730B of title 38, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``to covered patients''; and (2) in subsection (c), by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following: ``(3) The term `licensed health care provider' means a health care provider who is-- ``(A) an employee or contractor of the Department; and ``(B) licensed, certified, or registered by a State to fill or prescribe medication within the scope of practice for the Department.''. (b) Guidance and Training.-- (1) In general.--Such section is further amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following: ``(b) Guidance and Training.--(1) The Secretary shall issue guidance to pharmacy personnel of the Department (including licensed