H.R. 3832 would require medical providers at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) who prescribe controlled substances to veterans to seek information regarding those veterans from state programs that monitor prescription drug use. Under current policy, VA medical providers are required to query those state programs when prescribing such drugs. This bill would, therefore, codify VA’s existing practice. As a result, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost less than $500,000 over the 2019-2023 period, primarily to prepare the necessary regulations. That spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
