S. 3643Senate116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

VA Mission Telehealth Clarification Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 12:12 PM UTC

The VA Mission Telehealth Clarification Act updates the law so that certain postgraduate health‑care employees and health‑profession trainees working for the Department of Veterans Affairs can deliver care to veterans through telemedicine. It sets licensing and supervision rules for these workers, allowing them to treat patients remotely as long as they meet state licensing or Secretary‑approved qualifications and are supervised by a qualified professional.

Key Provisions

Expands the definition of “covered health care professional” to include VA employees and those authorized by the Secretary who meet quality standards and hold an active, unrestricted state license or Secretary‑approved qualifications.
Allows postgraduate health‑care employees to provide telemedicine if they obtain a current license or meet Secretary‑set qualifications within a set time frame and are under clinical supervision of a qualified professional.
Permits health‑profession trainees to deliver telemedicine services while under the clinical supervision of a qualified health‑care professional.

Legislative Activity

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4 earlier actions

SenateCalendars Latest Action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 545.

September 15, 2020

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

May 7, 2020

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

May 7, 2020

SenateCommittee

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

August 5, 2020

SenateCommittee

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Moran without amendment. Without written report.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

September 15, 2020

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 545.

September 15, 2020

Bill Text

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Reported to SenateIssued September 15, 2020

Calendar No. 545

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 3643

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 7, 2020

Mrs. Loeffler (for herself, Ms. Sinema, and Mrs. Blackburn) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

September 15, 2020

Reported by Mr. Moran, without amendment

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize certain postgraduate health care employees and health professions trainees of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide treatment via telemedicine, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the VA Mission Telehealth Clarification Act.

Modification of licensure requirements for health care professionals providing treatment via telemedicine

Section 1730C(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b)

Covered health care professionals

For purposes of this section, a covered health care professional is any of the following individuals:

(1)

A health care professional who—

(A)

is an employee of the Department appointed under section 7306, 7401, 7405, 7406, or 7408 of this title or title 5;

(B)

is authorized by the Secretary to provide health care under this chapter;

(C)

is required to adhere to all standards for quality relating to the provision of health care in accordance with applicable policies of the Department; and

(D)

(i)

has an active, current, full, and unrestricted license, registration, or certification in a State to practice the health care profession of the health care professional; or

(ii)

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.

(2)

A postgraduate health care employee who—

(A)

is appointed under section 7401(1), 7401(3), or 7405 of this title or title 5 for any category of personnel described in paragraph (1) or (3) of section 7401 of this title;

(B)

must obtain 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

(C)

is under the clinical supervision of a health care professional described in paragraph (1).

(3)

A health professions trainee who—

(A)

is appointed under section 7405 or 7406 of this title; and

(B)

is under the clinical supervision of a health care professional described in paragraph (1).

September 15, 2020

Reported without amendment