House Passes First Appropriations Bill; Directs VA to Report on Non-Opioid Pain Relief Access
Published June 10, 2024
By AACOM Government Relations
Advocacy Appropriations Federal Policy Healthcare Workforce Military Medicine OME Advocate Veterans Affairs
- On June 5, 2024, the House passed the fiscal year 2025 (FY25) appropriations bill for Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies, along mostly party lines by a vote of 209-197.
- The bill appropriates $379 billion, including $337.4 billion allocated to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which is $30.2 billion above the FY24 enacted level.
- The House Appropriations Committee remains concerned about the continued use of opioids in the veteran population and in its report, directs the VA to report on veterans’ access to non-opioid pain relief. This follows on AACOM-endorsed language in the FY24 report that recognized the importance of osteopathic manipulative treatment in treating veteran pain and encouraging the VA to expand the use of alternative pain management treatments.
- The Committee urges the VA to enhance clinician recruitment and retention and to work with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to reduce healthcare workforce shortages.
- For other programs and provisions of importance to the osteopathic medical education (OME) community within the appropriations bill and report, please review AACOM’s analysis.