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HR10037119th CongressWALLET

Virtual-Based Opioid Treatment for Veterans Act

Sponsored By: Representative Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]

In Committee

Summary

Expand virtual-based opioid treatment access for veterans. This bill would create a VA pilot using the Veterans Community Care Program to deliver medication-assisted treatment and same-visit behavioral counseling entirely by telehealth.

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  • Covered veterans and their families would get outreach, a referral pipeline, and access to virtual programs that combine medication-assisted treatment and counseling. Programs must meet outcome-based benchmarks such as patient retention, toxicology compliance, patient-reported outcomes, and reduced emergency department use.
  • VA clinicians and peer-support specialists would be informed about community-care network virtual programs so they can refer patients who face barriers to in-person care.
  • An interagency task force with the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Justice would coordinate the pilot, study societal barriers to treatment, and produce an initial report plus annual updates. The pilot would generally end two years after enactment unless the Secretary extends it based on demonstrated effectiveness.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

More telehealth opioid care for veterans

If enacted, the bill would require VA to start a pilot within 180 days to expand virtual opioid treatment. The pilot would apply to veterans enrolled under 38 U.S.C. 1705 through the Veterans Community Care Program. Care would be fully virtual and combine same-visit, same-clinician behavioral counseling with medication-assisted treatment. Clinicians would need to be licensed, board‑certified psychiatric clinicians with Drug Enforcement Administration authorization. VA would set outcome-based benchmarks for programs. VA would run outreach to veterans and families, build referral networks, and start a national awareness campaign. VA must ensure VHA clinicians and peer-support specialists know about these community virtual programs. An interagency task force with HHS, Defense, and the Attorney General would coordinate cross-agency integration. VA must study barriers, report findings and recommendations, and give annual progress updates until the opioid crisis is no longer a public health emergency. The pilot authority would end two years after enactment unless the Secretary finds it effective and extends it.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]

NC • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1]

    NC • D

    Sponsored 8/3/2026

  • Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1]

    WV • R

    Sponsored 8/3/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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