Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act of 2025

Bill: 119-hr-1107
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Womack, Steve [R-AR-3]
Introduced: 2025-02-06
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Health care coverage and access

Health personnel

Health technology, devices, supplies

Prescription drugs

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2025-09-16
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-02-06
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act of 2025</strong></p><p>This bill permanently authorizes certain Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care professionals to use&nbsp;telemedicine to deliver, distribute, or dispense controlled substances that are prescription drugs to patients who are eligible for VA health care, regardless of whether the health care professional has conducted an in-person medical examination. The health care professional must be (1) authorized to prescribe the basic class of such controlled substance under an active, current, full, and unrestricted license or certification; (2) acting in the usual course of professional practice; and (3) delivering, distributing, or dispensing the substance for a legitimate medical purpose.</p>

tv_txt: IIB 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1107 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 16, 2025 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs AN ACT To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize certain health care professionals employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs to deliver, distribute, or dispense to veterans certain controlled medications via telemedicine under certain conditions, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act of 2025 . 2. Delivery, distribution, and dispensation of controlled medications by covered Department of Veterans Affairs health care professionals via telemedicine Subchapter III of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section (and conforming the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter accordingly): 1730D. Delivery, distribution, and dispensation of controlled medications via telemedicine (a) In general Pursuant to section 1730C of this title and subject to the requirements of title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 ( 21 U.S.C. 801 et seq. ), a covered health care professional may use telemedicine to deliver, distribute, or dispense to a patient eligible to receive medical treatment under this chapter a controlled substance that is a prescription drug as determined under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 301 et seq. ) regardless of whether such covered health care professional has conducted an in-person medical examination of such patient if— (1) such covered health care professional is— (A) authorized to prescribe the basic class of such controlled substance under an active, current, full, and unrestricted State license, registration, or certification; and (B) acting in the usual course of professional practice; and (2) such substance is delivered, distributed, or dispensed for a legitimate medical purpose. (b) Regulations The Secretary shall establish in regulations guidelines and a process for the delivery, distribution, and dispensation of a controlled substance pursuant to subsection (a). (c) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed to remove, limit, or otherwise affect any obligation of a covered health care professional under the Controlled Substances Act. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) The terms controlled substance , deliver , dispense , and distribute have the meanings given such terms in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act, respectively. (2) The term covered health care professional means— (A) a health care professional who— (i) is an employee of the Department appointed under section 7306, 7401, 7405, 7406, or 7408 of this title or under title 5; (ii) is not a contractor of the Department; (iii) is authorized by the Secretary to provide health care under this chapter; (iv) is required to adhere to all standards for quality relating to the provision of health care in accordance with applicable policies of the Department; (v) has an active, current, full, and unrestricted license, registration, or certification or meet qualification standards set forth by the Secretary within a specified time frame; and (vi) with respect to a health care profession listed under section 7402(b) of this title, has the qualifications for such profession as set forth by the Secretary; and (B) a health professions trainee who— (i) is appointed under section 7405 of this title; and (ii) is under the clinical supervision of a health care professional described in subparagraph (A). .

Passed the House of Representatives September 15, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1107 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize certain health care professionals employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs to deliver, distribute, or dispense to veterans certain controlled medications via telemedicine under certain conditions, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act of 2025 . 2. Delivery, distribution, and dispensation of controlled medications by covered Department of Veterans Affairs health care professionals via telemedicine Subchapter III of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section (and conforming the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter accordingly): 1730D. Delivery, distribution, and dispensation of controlled medications via telemedicine (a) In general Pursuant to section 1730C of this title and subject to the requirements of title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 ( 21 U.S.C. 801 et seq. ), a covered health care professional may use telemedicine to deliver, distribute, or dispense to a patient eligible to receive medical treatment under this chapter a controlled substance that is a prescription drug as determined under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 301 et seq. ) regardless of whether such covered health care professional has conducted an in-person medical examination of such patient if— (1) such covered health care professional is— (A) authorized to prescribe the basic class of such controlled substance under an active, current, full, and unrestricted State license, registration, or certification; and (B) acting in the usual course of professional practice; and (2) such substance is delivered, distributed, or dispensed for a legitimate medical purpose. (b) Regulations The Secretary shall establish in regulations guidelines and a process for the delivery, distribution, and dispensation of a controlled substance pursuant to subsection (a). (c) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed to remove, limit, or otherwise affect any obligation of a covered health care professional under the Controlled Substances Act. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) The terms controlled substance , deliver , dispense , and distribute have the meanings given such terms in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act, respectively. (2) The term covered health care professional means— (A) a health care professional who— (i) is an employee of the Department appointed under section 7306, 7401, 7405, 7406, or 7408 of this title or under title 5; (ii) is not a contractor of the Department; (iii) is authorized by the Secretary to provide health care under this chapter; (iv) is required to adhere to all standards for quality relating to the provision of health care in accordance with applicable policies of the Department; (v) has an active, current, full, and unrestricted license, registration, or certification or meet qualification standards set forth by the Secretary within a specified time frame; and (vi) with respect to a health care profession listed under section 7402(b) of this title, has the qualifications for such profession as set forth by the Secretary; and (B) a health professions trainee who— (i) is appointed under section 7405 of this title; and (ii) is under the clinical supervision of a health care professional described in subparagraph (A). .

Passed the House of Representatives September 15, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 179 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1107 [Report No. 119–221] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 6, 2025 Mr. Womack (for himself, Mr. Bishop , Mr. Calvert , Mr. Davis of North Carolina , Mr. Neguse , Mrs. Bice , Mr. Valadao , Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia , Mr. Wittman , and Mr. Rogers of Kentucky ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs July 29, 2025 Additional sponsors: Mr. Wilson of South Carolina , Mr. Van Drew , Mr. Fallon , Mr. Bresnahan , Ms. Stefanik , Mr. Vindman , Mr. Scott Franklin of Florida , Ms. Titus , Mr. Moore of North Carolina , Mr. Harder of California , Mr. Tran , Mr. Suozzi , Mr. Deluzio , Ms. Bynum , Mr. Vasquez , Ms. Pou , Mr. Cohen , Ms. Lee of Nevada , and Ms. McDonald Rivet July 29, 2025 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize certain heath care professionals employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs to deliver, distribute, or dispense to veterans certain controlled medications via telemedicine under certain conditions, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act of 2025 . 2. Delivery, distribution, and dispensation of controlled medications by covered Department of Veterans Affairs health care professionals via telemedicine Subchapter III of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section (and conforming the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter accordingly): 1730D. Delivery, distribution, and dispensation of controlled medications via telemedicine (a) In general Pursuant to section 1730C of this title and subject to the requirements of title III of the Controlled Substances Act ( 21 U.S.C. 801 et seq. ), a covered health care professional may use telemedicine to deliver, distribute, or dispense to a patient eligible to receive medical treatment under this chapter a controlled substance that is a prescription drug as determined under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 301 et seq. ) regardless of whether such covered health care professional has conducted an in-person medical examination of such patient if— (1) such covered health care professional is— (A) authorized to prescribe the basic class of such controlled substance under an active, current, full, and unrestricted State license, registration, or certification; and (B) acting in the usual course of professional practice; and (2) such substance is delivered, distributed, or dispensed for a legitimate medical purpose. (b) Regulations The Secretary shall establish in regulations guidelines and a process for the delivery, distribution, and dispensation of a controlled substance pursuant to subsection (a). (c) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed to remove, limit, or otherwise affect any obligation of a covered health care professional under the Controlled Substances Act. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) The terms controlled substance , deliver , dispense , and distribute have the meanings given such terms in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act, respectively. (2) The term covered health care professional means— (A) a health care professional who— (i) is an employee of the Department appointed under section 7306, 7401, 7405, 7406, or 7408 of this title or under title 5; (ii) is not a contractor of the Department; (iii) is authorized by the Secretary to provide health care under this chapter; (iv) is required to adhere to all standards for quality relating to the provision of health care in accordance with applicable policies of the Department; (v) has an active, current, full, and unrestricted license, registration, or certification or meet qualification standards set forth by the Secretary within a specified time frame; and (vi) with respect to a health care profession listed under section 7402(b) of this title, has the qualifications for such profession as set forth by the Secretary; and (B) a health professions trainee who— (i) is appointed under section 7405 of this title; and (ii) is under the clinical supervision of a health care professional described in subparagraph (A). .

July 29, 2025 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1107 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 6, 2025 Mr. Womack (for himself, Mr. Bishop , Mr. Calvert , Mr. Davis of North Carolina , Mr. Neguse , Mrs. Bice , Mr. Valadao , Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia , Mr. Wittman , and Mr. Rogers of Kentucky ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize certain heath care professionals employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs to deliver, distribute, or dispense to veterans certain controlled medications via telemedicine under certain conditions, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act of 2025 . 2. Delivery, distribution, and dispensation of controlled medications by covered Department of Veterans Affairs health care professionals via telemedicine Subchapter III of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section (and conforming the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter accordingly): 1730D. Delivery, distribution, and dispensation of controlled medications via telemedicine (a) In general Pursuant to section 1730C of this title and subject to the requirements of title III of the Controlled Substances Act ( 21 U.S.C. 801 et seq. ), a covered health care professional may use telemedicine to deliver, distribute, or dispense to a patient eligible to receive medical treatment under this chapter a controlled substance that is a prescription drug as determined under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 301 et seq. ) regardless of whether such covered health care professional has conducted an in-person medical examination of such patient if— (1) such covered health care professional is— (A) authorized to prescribe the basic class of such controlled substance under an active, current, full, and unrestricted State license, registration, or certification; and (B) acting in the usual course of professional practice; and (2) such substance is delivered, distributed, or dispensed for a legitimate medical purpose. (b) Regulations The Secretary shall establish in regulations guidelines and a process for the delivery, distribution, and dispensation of a controlled substance pursuant to subsection (a). (c) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed to remove, limit, or otherwise affect any obligation of a covered health care professional under the Controlled Substances Act. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) The terms controlled substance , deliver , dispense , and distribute have the meanings given such terms in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act, respectively. (2) The term covered health care professional means— (A) a health care professional who— (i) is an employee of the Department appointed under section 7306, 7401, 7405, 7406, or 7408 of this title or under title 5; (ii) is not a contractor of the Department; (iii) is authorized by the Secretary to provide health care under this chapter; (iv) is required to adhere to all standards for quality relating to the provision of health care in accordance with applicable policies of the Department; (v) has an active, current, full, and unrestricted license, registration, or certification or meet qualification standards set forth by the Secretary within a specified time frame; and (vi) with respect to a health care profession listed under section 7402(b) of this title, has the qualifications for such profession as set forth by the Secretary; and (B) a health professions trainee who— (i) is appointed under section 7405 of this title; and (ii) is under the clinical supervision of a health care professional described in subparagraph (A). .