No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section amends the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Formulary statute to (1) define "non-opioid pain management drug or biological product" as a Food and Drug Administration-approved, granted, or cleared drug or biological product that reduces postoperative pain, produces postsurgical or regional analgesia, or treats acute pain without acting on opioid receptors; and (2) require the VA Secretary to include such products in the VA National Formulary (i.e., the list of drugs VA pharmacies may dispense to veterans) no later than the earlier of one year after the product becomes eligible for specified Medicare payment adjustments or 18 months after FDA approval. The section further prohibits use of Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund moneys—mandatory funding for VA health care, benefits, and research related to veterans' exposure to environmental hazards such as burn pits—for implementation and requires the VA Secretary to implement these amendments within 90 days of enactment. (Thus, implementation must use other VA appropriations.)