S. 3758: End Veterans Overdose Act of 2026

The End Veterans Overdose Act of 2026 aims to improve access to opioid overdose rescue medications, such as naloxone, for veterans and their caregivers. Here are the main points of the bill:

Provision of Medications

The bill directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to:

• Make opioid overdose rescue medications available at no charge and without a prescription to covered veterans and their caregivers at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pharmacies.

Information and Education

Along with providing the medications, the Secretary is required to ensure that veterans and caregivers who receive these medications also get information about how to use them properly.

Privacy Protections

The bill includes provisions to protect personal information:

• The Secretary can only collect personal information that is necessary for prescribing the medications.
• This personal information cannot be used for purposes such as:
• Preventing a veteran from being employed;
• As evidence of a history of drug use;
• Indicating that an individual is an unlawful user or addicted to controlled substances.

Reporting Requirements

The Secretary must submit a report to Congress regarding the implementation of the provisions in the bill:

• The first report must be submitted within two years of the medications becoming available, with subsequent reports required annually.
• The report should include:
• The number of veterans and caregivers who received the medications;
• Feasibility studies on expanding access to immediate family members of veterans;
• Feasibility studies on including non-VA healthcare providers; and
• Trends in the utilization of the prescribed medications.

Definitions

The bill provides specific definitions for key terms:

• Caregiver: A family member or a designated individual who assists a veteran under specific VA programs.
• Covered medication: Refers specifically to opioid overdose rescue medications like naloxone.
• Covered veteran: Defined according to established VA regulations.

Implementation Timeline

Once the bill is enacted, the VA must work towards making these medications available and establish the necessary reporting and educational practices.

Relevant Companies

• NDAQ - Companies involved in producing opioid overdose rescue medications, such as naloxone, may see increased demand if this bill passes, as more veterans and caregivers will be needing access to these drugs.