Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs passed a bill co-authored by Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) and Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) to expand access to telemedicine for veterans in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system.
“We must continue to leverage new technologies that will allow us to provide better and more convenient care for our veterans,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “The capability to provide care to veterans right in their own homes exists, but archaic rules stand in the way. Committee passage of our legislation today brings us one step closer to having telehealth services more widely available, no matter the veteran’s physical location. I thank the Committee for their support, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House to pass this bill and get it to the President’s desk.”
The Veterans E-Health and Telemedicine Support (VETS) Act will allow VA health professionals to practice telemedicine across state borders. Currently, VA doctors can only provide telehealth treatment across state lines if the veteran and the doctor are both located in federal facilities, making it difficult for veterans to access telemedicine services from their own homes.
Issues: 115th Congress, Veterans' Affairs