Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act of 2025

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time this afternoon.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 1107, the Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act of 2025.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation is pretty simple. I argue that it is a very commonsense bill. Most importantly, it is vital. It ensures that our veterans, whether they live in the heart of our largest cities or in the most rural, remote communities, have uninterrupted access to the healthcare that they have earned.

I thank my good friend Chairman Bost and Ranking Member Takano for their support in advancing this bill as one part of the effort to support our veterans.

I also thank my friend Mark Berry, a former adjutant general for the great State of Arkansas and a former State representative, for his advocacy on behalf of our veterans on this issue. Mark brought this to my attention, and I wouldn't be standing here today without his encouragement.

In 2008, Congress passed the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act to address the rise of rogue online pill mills and the potential for abuse in prescribing controlled substances. At the time, it was the right step to safeguard public health. Yet, the world of 2008 is not the world of today, and the law has not kept pace with the realities of modern medicine or the unique needs of our veterans.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the in-person requirement for prescribing controlled substances under the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act was temporarily waived. This flexibility allowed VA doctors and specialists to reach veterans where they are through secure, effective telemedicine. The Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services have continued to extend this waiver. Yet, without further action, it will expire at the end of this year.

My bill would permanently extend the exemption for VA healthcare professionals with the appropriate safeguards so that they can continue to prescribe medically necessary treatments to veterans via telemedicine.

For veterans in our urban communities, letting this waiver expire means longer wait times, fewer appointment slots, and even more strain on an already overburdened VA system.

For veterans in rural America, the consequences are even more serious. Many of these men and women live hours away from the nearest VA provider. For them, the exemption has meant timely care without the cost and hardship of traveling hundreds of miles for a single appointment.

Mr. Speaker, this is not just a matter of convenience. It is a matter of necessity. It is about ensuring that every

veteran, regardless of where they live, has equal access to the care that they have earned through their service and sacrifice to this Nation. Our veterans have given this Nation their best. It is our duty to give them our best in return.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation and to act swiftly to make sure that our veterans never see their care delayed, denied, or diminished because of outdated laws.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1107) 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, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 1107, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1107 offered by Representative Womack.

This bill would allow telemedicine prescriptions for controlled substances at VA even before an in-person medical exam.

During the COVID pandemic, VA waived requirements for an in-person appointment. As a result, providers could prescribe controlled substances by telemedicine. This waiver was helpful for continuity of care during the pandemic.

We also realized that many veterans received more access than before due to this waiver. I cannot tell you how many times veterans in rural areas have told me stories about hours they have to drive to receive care or a prescription from the VA.

Representative Womack's bill would close the loop and modernize the delivery of prescriptions by making the current waiver permanent.

While telemedicine will never totally replace in-person care, the VA must be granted the tools to deliver 21st century healthcare. This bill would remove burdens on veterans who need VA care so they can get it sooner by telemedicine.

I will continue to do whatever I can to ease access to care and critical treatment for veterans living in rural areas of this country. This bill would give VA power to meet the moment and the use of the latest medicine and technology for veterans.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1107, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Womack), the sponsor of this legislation and my good friend.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that we are considering H.R. 1107, the Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act of 2025, as amended. It will enable VA providers to prescribe substances to veterans through telemedicine without first conducting an in-person exam. This bill will make permanent a flexibility that has been extended to VA and non-VA prescribers alike since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The current waiver, which has been extended by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services, is set to expire in December of 2025. This legislation will make permanent VA prescribers' authority to prescribe controlled substances via telehealth, if and when DEA and HHS end the temporary authority.

Telemedicine has helped VA to greatly increase veterans' access to a variety of types of care, providing a critical lifeline for veterans, especially those who may have difficulty leaving the house or who live in extremely rural areas.

We can clearly recognize that after the pandemic, we must be open to changing the way we provide care to everyone, especially veterans, to reflect technological advancements, individual preferences, and the necessity of expanding access to care. In fact, telehealth is the industry standard for many providers and categories of care, including many in the VA's community care network. Veterans should expect nothing less when they receive care from the VA.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1107, which is the Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act of 2025, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1107, Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act of 2025, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.