Rep. Collins introduces bill in U.S. House to require opioid prescription history sharing for veterans

The new bill authored by U.S. Rep. Mike Collins in the U.S. House aims to enhance continuity of care for veterans by improving opioid prescription information sharing, according to the U.S. Congress.

H.R.8679 was introduced on May 7, 2026 during the 2026 regular session of the 119th Congress. The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends title 38 of the United States Code to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to send a veteran’s opioid prescription history to health care providers in the Community Care program. Specifically, it mandates that the Secretary transmit this information through non-Department health care providers as well as through Third Party Administrators designated for this purpose. The bill seeks to enhance continuity of care for veterans by ensuring that their opioid prescription history is accessible to all relevant health care professionals involved in their treatment.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Mike Collins (Republican-GA-10th District) and co-sponsored by Rep. Brian Babin (Republican-GA-36th District), Rep. James R. Baird (Republican-GA-4th District), and Rep. Fuller, Clay [R-GA-14] (Republican-GA-14th District), along with three other sponsors.

Since the beginning of the current session, Rep. Collins has introduced another 12 bills.

Congressional bills can originate in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate, except for revenue-related measures, which must begin in the House. After introduction, bills are assigned to committees for review, hearings, amendments and debate before they can advance to a vote in each chamber. If both chambers approve identical versions, the legislation is sent to the president, who may sign it into law or veto it. Congress operates in two-year terms, with each term numbered sequentially and divided into two annual sessions. The legislative process and official bill records are maintained by the U.S. Congress and published through Congress.gov.

Mike Collins is a Representative from Georgia who has served in the One Hundred Eighteenth Congress and the succeeding Congress since January 3, 2023. He graduated with a B.B.A. from Georgia State University in 1990 and was an unsuccessful candidate for the One Hundred Fourteenth Congress in 2014.

Information in this article was obtained from the U.S. Congress. The source data can be found here.