Bill Summary
The "Written Informed Consent Act" is a legislative proposal aimed at enhancing the informed consent process for veterans receiving certain medications through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Specifically, it mandates the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to revise an existing directive (VHA Directive 1005) that currently pertains to informed consent for long-term opioid therapy. The update will expand the directive to include additional categories of medications such as antipsychotics, stimulants, antidepressants, anxiolytics, and narcotics. This legislation seeks to ensure that veterans are fully informed about the potential risks and benefits of these medications before starting treatment, promoting better patient care and safety.
Possible Impacts
The proposed "Written Informed Consent Act" could affect people in several ways:
1. **Enhanced Patient Understanding**: By expanding the directive on informed consent to include a broader range of medications, veterans receiving treatments for mental health conditions or pain management will be required to receive more comprehensive information about the risks, benefits, and alternatives associated with these medications. This could lead to better-informed decisions and potentially improve treatment adherence as patients feel more empowered and knowledgeable about their care.
2. **Improved Safety and Monitoring**: With the requirement for informed consent on a wider array of medications, healthcare providers in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) will need to engage in detailed discussions with patients about the use of antipsychotics, stimulants, antidepressants, anxiolytics, and narcotics. This could lead to improved safety monitoring and follow-up care, reducing the risk of adverse effects or misuse of these medications, particularly among veterans who may be at higher risk for substance use disorders.
3. **Potential Barriers to Access**: While the intent of the legislation is to promote informed consent and patient autonomy, it may also create additional administrative burdens for healthcare providers. This could potentially delay the initiation of necessary treatments for veterans who need these medications urgently. If the informed consent process becomes too lengthy or complex, some veterans may face barriers to accessing timely and appropriate care, which might exacerbate their health conditions.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4837 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4837
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to expand a directive of
the Veterans Health Administration regarding informed consent to apply
to certain types of medications.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 1, 2025
Mr. Bilirakis (for himself, Mr. Bergman, and Mr. Self) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to expand a directive of
the Veterans Health Administration regarding informed consent to apply
to certain types of medications.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Written Informed Consent Act''.
SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF CERTAIN DIRECTIVE OF THE VETERANS HEALTH
ADMINISTRATION REGARDING INFORMED CONSENT TO APPLY TO
CERTAIN TYPES OF MEDICATIONS.
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall update VHA Directive 1005
(dated May 13, 2020, and titled ``Informed Consent For Long-term Opioid
Therapy For Pain'') to apply to the following types of medications:
(1) Antipsychotics.
(2) Stimulants.
(3) Antidepressants.
(4) Anxiolytics.
(5) Narcotics.
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