Statement of Michael J. Missal, Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs Before the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, Committee on Appropriations, United States Senate Hearing on "VA Efforts to Prevent and Combat Opioid Overmedication"
Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Schatz, and Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to discuss the Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) work related to preventing opioid abuse. As you know, opioid abuse has become a serious public health emergency for our Nation that impacts individuals and families from all walks of life, and our veterans have been particularly hard hit. It is not surprising that, given the prevalence and complexity of chronic pain in the veteran population, overdose deaths among veterans occur at elevated rates when compared to the civilian population.1 With increasing opioid overdose deaths, the emphasis has appropriately shifted to opioid dose reduction, increased assessments, and closer monitoring of patients on chronic opioid therapy. My statement today will focus on some of VA’s recent efforts in this area and the findings and recommendations from our recent report, Healthcare Inspection—Opioid Prescribing to High-Risk Veterans Receiving VA Purchased Care.
Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG)
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