H.R. 1545 would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to disclose to state programs that monitor prescription drugs certain information about all people who receive prescriptions from VA. Under current law, VA is required to disclose such information only for veterans or their dependents who are prescribed medication through VA. H.R. 1545 would expand that group to include anyone who is prescribed medication through VA, including descendants of veterans, staff at VA, and individuals receiving disaster relief. CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost less than $500,000 over the 2018-2022 period, primarily to prepare the necessary regulations; that spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
Enacting H.R. 1545 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1545 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.
