Department of Veterans Affairs Telehealth Strategy Act
Bill: H.R.5787 | Sponsor: Rep. Rosendale Sr., Matthew M. (R-MT)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Department of Veterans Affairs Telehealth Strategy Act
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit a strategy to Congress for the telehealth services furnished by the Veterans Health Administration. Additionally, the VA must report on the utilization of end-user devices provided to veterans by the VA to facilitate telehealth during FY2020 and FY2021.

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop a strategy for 
telehealth furnished by the Veterans Health Administration and submit a 
report on end-user devices distributed by the Secretary to veterans to 
                      facilitate such telehealth.

    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 ``Department of Veterans Affairs 
Telehealth Strategy Act''.

SEC. 2. TELEHEALTH STRATEGY OF THE VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees 
on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a 
strategy for telehealth services furnished by the Veterans Health 
Administration. Such strategy shall contain the following elements:
            (1) A projection of demand for such telehealth services for 
        the fiscal years 2022, 2023, and 2024, including--
                    (A) aggregate demand for telehealth services;
                    (B) such demand, disaggregated by primary care, 
                relevant specialties, and mental health;
                    (C) such demand, disaggregated by telehealth 
                modality; and
                    (D) demand described in subparagraphs (B) and (C) 
                disaggregated by State.
            (2) An estimate of the technology needed to support demand 
        described in paragraph (1), including--
                    (A) quantities of end-user devices, other hardware, 
                software, and services;
                    (B) costs of end-user devices, other hardware, 
                software, and services; and
                    (C) quantities and costs described in subparagraphs 
                (A) and (B), respectively, disaggregated by--
                            (i) remote patient monitoring and home 
                        telehealth prosthetics;
                            (ii) home- and community-based services;
                            (iii) clinic-based services; and
                            (iv) hospital and emergency services.

SEC. 3. REPORT ON END-USER TELEHEALTH DEVICES FURNISHED BY THE VETERANS 
              HEALTH ADMINISTRATION.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees 
on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a 
report on the utilization of end-user devices provided to veterans by 
the Department to facilitate telehealth during fiscal years 2020 and 
2021. Such report shall contain the following elements:
            (1) How many of each type of end-user devices, in total and 
        disaggregated by State, the Secretary has provided to veterans.
            (2) Usage rates of the devices described in paragraph (1).
            (3) Total cost to purchase and distribute the devices 
        described in paragraph (1).
            (4) The number of devices described in paragraph (1) 
        returned to the Department.
            (5) The number of devices described in paragraph (4) 
        subsequently provided to other veterans.

SEC. 4. STATE DEFINED.

    In this Act, the term ``State'' has the meaning given such term in 
section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
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