Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act of 2025

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Bill ID: 119/hr/1107
Last Updated: September 6, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Womack, Steve [R-AR-3]

ID: W000809

Follow the money

The bill

Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act of 2025

HR. 1107, 119th Congress — read as touching Pharmaceuticals.

The sponsor

Rep. Womack, Steve [R-AR-3]

Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.

The money

$104,550 raised

25 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.

The alignment

95% match to Project 2025

This bill's text tracks the "Department of Veterans Affairs" section, p. 688-691 of the Mandate for Leadership.

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

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

September 15, 2025

Introduced

Committee Review

Floor Action

Passed House

Senate Review

📍 Current Status

Next: Both chambers must agree on the same version of the bill.

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the 119th Congress. Let's dissect this farce and uncover the real disease beneath.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act of 2025 is a bill that claims to expand veterans' access to telemedicine services, specifically allowing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare professionals to prescribe controlled substances via telemedicine. How noble. But don't be fooled – this is just a symptom of a larger disease: the insatiable hunger for power and control.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill amends title 38, United States Code, to permit VA healthcare professionals to deliver, distribute, or dispense controlled substances via telemedicine under certain conditions. It also establishes guidelines and regulations for this process. Wow, how innovative. In reality, this is just a thinly veiled attempt to expand the VA's authority and justify more bureaucratic red tape.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** Veterans, of course, are the supposed beneficiaries of this bill. But let's not forget the real stakeholders: pharmaceutical companies, healthcare providers, and the VA itself. This bill is a gift to these interests, allowing them to further entrench their power and profits.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** The impact of this bill will be negligible for veterans, but significant for the special interest groups backing it. By expanding telemedicine services, the VA can justify more funding and resources, while pharmaceutical companies can increase sales of controlled substances. Meanwhile, healthcare providers will reap the benefits of increased access to patients and prescriptions.

But what about the risks? Oh, don't worry – the bill includes plenty of CYA language to protect against potential abuses. It's all just a clever ruse to distract from the real issue: the VA's continued incompetence in providing adequate care to veterans.

In conclusion, this bill is a classic case of legislative malpractice. It's a symptom of a deeper disease: the corruption and self-interest that plagues our government. So, let's give it a diagnosis: "Bills-itis" – a chronic condition characterized by an excessive love of power, money, and bureaucratic nonsense.

Treatment? Unlikely. Prognosis? Grim. But hey, at least we can all enjoy the theater while Rome burns.

Related Topics

Military & Veterans Affairs
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Womack, Steve [R-AR-3]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$104,550
20 donors
PACs
$6,600
Organizations
$3,750
Committees
$0
Individuals
$94,200
1
CHICKASAW NATION
1 transaction
$3,300
2
CHEROKEE NATION
1 transaction
$3,300
1
CENTERVIEW PARTNERS PAC, LLC
1 transaction
$2,500
2
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
1 transaction
$1,000
3
TEAM SCHMITT FUND
1 transaction
$250

No committee contributions found

1
HUNT, JOHNELLE D. MS.
1 transaction
$11,600
2
STINSON, KENNETH E
1 transaction
$11,600
3
FISHER, KENNETH
1 transaction
$6,600
4
FISHER, SHERRILYN
1 transaction
$6,600
5
RICKETTS, JOHN PETER SEN.
1 transaction
$6,600
6
BRADBURY, CHARLOTTE S
2 transactions
$6,600
7
BRADBURY, CURTIS F
2 transactions
$6,600
8
ESPOSITO, MICHELLE VARGA
2 transactions
$6,600
9
ESPOSITO, PATRICK
2 transactions
$6,600
10
HARRISON, GRANT
2 transactions
$6,600
11
BLUE, JAMES NEAL
1 transaction
$5,000
12
ALEXANDER, JAMES
1 transaction
$3,300
13
ALLEN, THOMAS W
1 transaction
$3,300
14
CAMERON, RONALD M
1 transaction
$3,300
15
HARRISON, JESSICA
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 10 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2]

ID: B000490

Top Contributors

23

1
TUNICA-BILOXI TRIBE OF LOUISIANA
OrganizationMANSURA, LA
$3,300
Dec 30, 2023
2
TUNICA-BILOXI TRIBE OF LOUISIANA
OrganizationMANSURA, LA
$2,500
Oct 30, 2024
3
MUSCOGEE CREEK NATION
OrganizationOKMULGEE, OK
$1,000
Oct 28, 2024
4
DAVIS, HENRY BART III
SELF-EMPLOYED • FARMER
IndividualDOERUN, GA
$3,300
Oct 21, 2024
5
DAVIS, HENRY BART JR
SELF-EMPLOYED • FARMER
IndividualDOERUN, GA
$3,300
Oct 21, 2024
6
DAVIS, JEDD ADAM
SELF-EMPLOYED • FARMER
IndividualDOERUN, GA
$3,300
Oct 21, 2024
7
DAVIS, PAULA
SELF EMPLOYED • FARMER
IndividualDOERUN, GA
$3,300
Oct 21, 2024
8
REDDING, ROBERT L. JR
THE REDDING FIRM • PRESIDENT
IndividualWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Oct 21, 2024
9
VECCHIARELLI, DANIEL A
LEPRINO FOODS • VICE CHAIRMAN
IndividualDENVER, CO
$3,300
Oct 28, 2024
10
BARNES, ROY E.
THE BARNES LAW GROUP LLC • ATTORNEY
IndividualMARIETTA, GA
$3,300
Oct 25, 2024

Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41]

ID: C000059

Top Contributors

58

1
WINRED
COMARLINGTON, VA
$2,000
Nov 4, 2024
2
WINRED
COMARLINGTON, VA
$500
Oct 21, 2024
3
WINRED
COMARLINGTON, VA
$500
Nov 4, 2024
4
WINRED
COMARLINGTON, VA
$30
Nov 5, 2024
5
WINRED
COMARLINGTON, VA
$10
Oct 28, 2024
6
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Oct 17, 2024
7
TWENTY-NINE PALMS BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationCOACHELLA, CA
$3,300
Nov 14, 2024
8
TWENTY-NINE PALMS BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationCOACHELLA, CA
$3,300
Nov 14, 2024
9
BARONA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationLAKESIDE, CA
$3,300
Dec 28, 2024
10
SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationHIGHLAND, CA
$3,300
Dec 22, 2023

Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1]

ID: D000230

Top Contributors

26

1
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
OrganizationROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
Mar 5, 2024
2
TUNICA-BILOXI TRIBE OF LA
OrganizationMARKSVILLE, LA
$2,000
Dec 31, 2023
3
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,650
Jun 6, 2023
4
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,650
May 13, 2024
5
BARONA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationLAKESIDE, CA
$1,500
May 31, 2023
6
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$1,000
Dec 28, 2023
7
FISHER, DEBORAH
NOT EMPLOYED • NOT EMPLOYED
IndividualCOEUR D ALENE, ID
$4,000
Jul 29, 2024
8
BLOOM, BRADLEY
BERKSHIRE PARTNERS LLC • INVESTMENTS
IndividualWELLESLEY, MA
$3,300
Oct 31, 2024
9
BRAUFMAN, JILL
NOT EMPLOYED • RETIRED
IndividualSURFSIDE, FL
$3,300
Oct 18, 2024
10
CLAPP, STEPHEN
SELF EMPLOYED • RANCHER
IndividualSEQUIM, WA
$3,300
Oct 30, 2024

Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]

ID: N000191

Top Contributors

24

1
AK-CHIN INDIAN COMMUNITY
OrganizationMARICOPA, AZ
$3,300
Mar 31, 2023
2
AK-CHIN INDIAN COMMUNITY
OrganizationMARICOPA, AZ
$2,500
Oct 13, 2024
3
YUROK TRIBE
OrganizationKLAMATH, CA
$1,000
Feb 1, 2023
4
SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationLOS ANGELES, CA
$1,000
Jun 9, 2024
5
EKLUND, PAUL
IndividualBOULDER, CO
$6,400
Oct 3, 2023
6
EKLUND, PAUL
P.N. EKLUND INTERESTS INC. • REAL ESTATE
IndividualBOULDER, CO
$6,400
Sep 30, 2023
7
KLARMAN, SETH
THE BAUPOST GROUP • CEO
IndividualBOSTON, MA
$3,300
Oct 18, 2024
8
GROSS, DAVID
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO • INSTRUCTOR
IndividualBOULDER, CO
$3,300
Oct 31, 2024
9
WEAVER, LINDSAY
SELF • ENGINEER
IndividualPAGOSA SPRINGS, CO
$3,300
Oct 22, 2024
10
BLOOM, BRADLEY
BERKSHIRE PARTNERS LLC • INVESTMENTS
IndividualWELLESLEY, MA
$3,300
Oct 21, 2024

Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5]

ID: B000740

Top Contributors

32

1
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
COMCHEROKEE, NC
$3,300
Dec 27, 2023
2
CHEROKEE NATION
COMTAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Sep 30, 2024
3
PECHANGA BAND OF INDIANS
COMTEMECULA, CA
$3,300
Jun 10, 2024
4
MS BAND OF CHOCTAW INDIANS
COMCHOCTAW, MS
$1,000
Dec 19, 2023
5
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS NATIVE AMERICAN RIGHTS FUND
PACBANNING, CA
$1,000
Mar 31, 2024
6
MUSCOGEE CREEK NATION
COMOKMULGEE, OK
$1,000
Aug 7, 2024
7
BARONA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
COMLAKESIDE, CA
$1,000
Jun 30, 2023
8
MUSCOGEE CREEK NATION
COMOKMULGEE, OK
$500
Dec 5, 2023
9
CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA
OrganizationDURANT, OK
$3,300
Dec 24, 2023
10
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$3,300
May 22, 2024

Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22]

ID: V000129

Top Contributors

47

1
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Oct 23, 2024
2
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
OrganizationCHEROKEE, NC
$3,300
Nov 5, 2024
3
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationSANTA YNEZ, CA
$3,300
Dec 20, 2023
4
AK-CHIN INDIAN COMMUNITY
OrganizationMARICOPA, AZ
$3,300
Mar 31, 2023
5
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$3,300
Feb 28, 2024
6
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationSANTA YNEZ, CA
$3,300
Feb 28, 2024
7
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$3,300
May 25, 2023
8
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$3,300
Jun 29, 2024
9
MOORETOWN RANCHERIA
OrganizationOROVILLE, CA
$3,300
Sep 26, 2024
10
PECHANGA BAND OF LUISENO INDIANS
OrganizationTEMECULA, CA
$3,300
Aug 16, 2024

Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]

ID: K000399

Top Contributors

23

1
AIPAC- EARMARKS
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$2,000
Oct 22, 2024
2
PEAKE FOR SENATE
COMLYNCHBURG, VA
$500
Jan 9, 2024
3
PEAKE FOR SENATE
COMLYNCHBURG, VA
$250
Jan 9, 2024
4
KEHOE, MICHAEL
KINSALE MGMT INC • CEO
IndividualRICHMOND, VA
$13,200
Jun 8, 2023
5
MITCHUM, ELZA
C & M INDUSTRIES • PRESIDENT
IndividualCHESAPEAKE, VA
$6,600
Oct 18, 2023
6
SILVERMAN, JEFFREY
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualMIAMI BEACH, FL
$6,600
Oct 17, 2023
7
PERRY, J DOUGLAS
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualNORFOLK, VA
$6,600
Nov 6, 2023
8
WEEKLEY, RICHARD
SELF EMPLOYED • REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER
IndividualHOUSTON, TX
$6,600
Nov 8, 2023
9
GILLIAM, MARVIN
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualBRISTOL, VA
$6,600
Mar 30, 2024
10
BOHANNON, DAVID
LONDON BRIDGE TRADING INC. • PRESIDENT
IndividualVIRGINIA BEACH, VA
$6,600
May 23, 2024

Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]

ID: W000804

Top Contributors

24

1
THE CHICKASAW NATION
PACADA, OK
$3,300
Jun 17, 2024
2
THE CHICKASAW NATION
PACADA, OK
$3,300
Sep 30, 2024
3
CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA
OrganizationDURANT, OK
$3,300
Dec 14, 2023
4
AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS
OrganizationPALM SPRINGS, CA
$3,300
Feb 8, 2024
5
KEHOE, MICHAEL PATRICK
IndividualRICHMOND, VA
$13,200
Jun 2, 2023
6
GIFFORD, BILLY
ALTRIA GROUP INC. • CEO
IndividualMIDLOTHIAN, VA
$6,600
Sep 26, 2023
7
PAYNE, DANIEL E.
PAYNE INC • CEO
IndividualFREDERICKSBURG, VA
$6,600
Nov 29, 2023
8
CASEY, ARTHUR S.
CASEY AUTO GROUP • PRESIDENT
IndividualNEWPORT NEWS, VA
$6,600
Mar 29, 2023
9
PAYNE, DANIEL E.
PAYNE INC • CEO
IndividualFREDERICKSBURG, VA
$6,600
Nov 29, 2023
10
KANTNER, CHRIS
UKROP'S FOOD GROUP • PRESIDENT
IndividualRICHMOND, VA
$6,600
Jan 12, 2024

Rep. Rogers, Harold [R-KY-5]

ID: R000395

Top Contributors

23

1
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$3,300
Jun 14, 2024
2
THE GORMAN COMPANY
OrganizationHAZARD, KY
$1,200
Nov 19, 2024
3
DOUBLE R FARMS
OrganizationNANCY, KY
$500
May 13, 2024
4
ROBINSON, TIM
APPALACIAN RECOVERY CENTER • OWNER
IndividualLOUISA, KY
$5,000
Oct 4, 2024
5
ROBINSON, TIM
IndividualLOUISA, KY
$3,400
Dec 4, 2024
6
MCCARTHY, JOHN
MCCARTHY STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS • FOUNDER
IndividualLOUISVILLE, KY
$3,300
Oct 21, 2024
7
FAISON, JAY W
CLEARPATH • FOUNDER
IndividualCHARLOTTE, NC
$3,300
Nov 27, 2023
8
FAISON, JAY W
CLEARPATH • FOUNDER
IndividualCHARLOTTE, NC
$3,300
Nov 27, 2023
9
HAMILTON, ERICA
HOUSEBOAT MANUFACTURING • HARBOR COTTAGE HOUSEBOATS
IndividualLEXINGTON, KY
$3,300
Oct 27, 2023
10
BAIRD, CHARLES J.
BAIRD LAW FIRM • ATTORNEY
IndividualPIKEVILLE, KY
$3,300
Apr 26, 2024

Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2]

ID: W000795

Top Contributors

21

1
CATAWBA INDIAN NATION
OrganizationROCK HILL, SC
$2,000
May 6, 2024
2
LEVKOWITZ, HOWARD
SELF EMPLOYED • INVESTOR
IndividualLOS ANGELES, CA
$6,600
Nov 28, 2023
3
VICKAR, KERRY
LKV MANAGEMENT • CHAIRMAN
IndividualCHARLOTTE, NC
$5,000
Nov 21, 2023
4
LOWELL, RANDY R.
BURR FORMAN • ATTORNEY
IndividualISLE OF PALMS, SC
$3,700
May 8, 2024
5
VALLARINO, MANUEL R.
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualSURFSIDE BEACH, SC
$3,300
Oct 29, 2024
6
VALLARINO, MARY EMILY J.
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualSURFSIDE BEACH, SC
$3,300
Oct 29, 2024
7
CASSELS, W. TOBIN III
SOUTHEASTERN FREIGHT LINES • PRESIDENT
IndividualCOLUMBIA, SC
$3,300
Dec 1, 2023
8
CASSELS, W. TOBIN JR.
SOUTHEASTERN FREIGHT LINES • CHAIRMAN & CEO
IndividualCOLUMBIA, SC
$3,300
Dec 1, 2023
9
HOEFER, JOHN M. S. ESQ.
WILLOUGHBY & HOEFER P.A. • ATTORNEY
IndividualCOLUMBIA, SC
$3,300
Nov 8, 2023
10
LIEBERMAN, JEREMY A.
KLEE TUCHIN BOGDANOFF & STERN LLP • ATTORNEY
IndividualFLUSHING, NY
$3,300
Oct 31, 2023

Donor Network - Rep. Womack, Steve [R-AR-3]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 38 nodes and 40 connections

Total contributions: $40

Top Donors - Rep. Womack, Steve [R-AR-3]

Showing top 20 donors by contribution amount

2 PACs3 Orgs15 Individuals

Industry Impact

Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 2 helped.

  • +Pharmaceuticalsconfidence 0.90

    Section 2 authorizes VA health care professionals to deliver, distribute, or dispense controlled substances via telemedicine, which expands the market for prescription drugs and benefits pharmaceutical manufacturers.

  • The bill permits VA-employed health care professionals (who work within the VA health system) to use telemedicine for controlled substances, increasing service capacity and utilization of VA health systems.

Project 2025 Policy Matches

This bill shows semantic similarity to the following sections of the Project 2025 policy document.AI-enhanced analysis provides detailed alignment ratings.

Department of Veterans Affairs

Very Strong
Vector: 69%
Pages: 688-691AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The bill directly expands VA telemedicine capabilities for prescribing controlled substances, which aligns with Project 2025's objective to modernize VA healthcare delivery and improve veteran access through telehealth innovations."

Key themes:telehealth expansionveteran access to careVA modernizationcontrolled substance prescribing via telemedicinepatient safety regulations

— 655 — Department of Veterans Affairs ENDNOTES 1. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Division, VHA Directive 1003, “VHA Veteran Patient Experience,” April 14, 2020, pp. 1 and B-1. 2. S. 2372, VA Mission Act of 2018, Public Law No. 115-182, 115th Congress, June 6, 2018, https://www.congress. gov/115/plaws/publ182/PLAW-115publ182.pdf (accessed January 30, 2023). 3. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VA History Office, “VA History,” last updated May 27, 2021, https://www. va.gov/HISTORY/VA_History/Overview.asp (accessed January 28, 2023). 4. 38 U.S. Code § 1116, https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/38/1116 (accessed January 28, 2023). 5. S. 3373, Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022), Public Law No. 117-168, 117th Congress, August 10, 2022, https://www. congress.gov/117/plaws/publ168/PLAW-117publ168.pdf (accessed January 28, 2023). 6. H.R. 2471, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, Public Law No. 117-103, 117th Congress, March 15, 2022, Division S, Title I, https://www.congress.gov/117/plaws/publ103/PLAW-117publ103.pdf (accessed March 18, 2023). Known variously as the Department of Veterans Affairs Nurse and Physician Assistant Retention and Income Security Enhancement Act and the VA Nurse and Physician Assistant RAISE Act. 7. See note 5, supra.

Department of Health and Human Services

Strong
Vector: 64%
Pages: 515-517AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The bill aligns with Project 2025's objective to redefine the locus of service in telehealth to the provider's location, thereby supporting licensure portability and interstate telehealth access—particularly relevant for veterans in rural or underserved areas. Both emphasize expanding telehealth flexibility while maintaining state licensure standards and improving access to care."

Key themes:telehealth expansionlicensure portabilityprovider-based locus of servicerural healthcare accessinterstate telehealth regulation

— 483 — Department of Health and Human Services l Readdress the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers. While in theory the strategy aims to support family members with duties to care for older family members, the plan is overly focused on racial and “LGBTQ+ equity.” The strategy should be examined to establish an efficient plan to support caregivers and their families. There should also be a review of its COVID-19 policies. HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (HRSA) l Congress should allow CMS to use the 340B data that HRSA collects rather than having CMS conduct its own survey, especially in view of the U.S. Supreme Court’s American Hospital Association v. Becerra decision.69 The legislation should also create penalties for those who do not respond to HRSA’s data collection. l Legally define the locus of service as where the provider is located during the telehealth visit rather than where the patient is. With such a definition, states could continue to reserve their powers to establish the standards for licensure and scope of practice. The providers could ensure continuity and consistency of care no matter where their patients might move while maintaining the licenses that make the most sense for them. Americans are far more mobile and technologically advanced today than they were when most health care laws were written. Telehealth has become increasingly important, particularly during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also has great potential in rural and other areas where there are shortages of health care providers. HRSA’s Office for the Advancement of Telehealth includes a program known as the Licensure Portability Grant Program, which bolsters state efforts to reform licensing laws to maximize telehealth flexibility. HRSA does not have the authority through this office to dictate licensure laws; that power has typically been reserved to the states. However, telehealth across state lines, when permitted, is interstate commerce, which can be regulated by the federal government according to the Constitution. l Restore Trump religious and moral exemptions to the contraceptive mandate (also a CMS rule). HHS should rescind, if finalized, the regulation titled “Coverage of Certain Preventive Services Under the Affordable Care Act,” proposed jointly by HHS, Treasury, and Labor.70 This rule proposes to amend Trump-era final rules regarding religious and moral exemptions and accommodations for coverage of certain preventive services under the ACA. Preventive services include contraception, and — 484 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise it appears the proposed rule would change the existing regulations for religious and moral exemptions to the ACA’s contraception mandate. There is no need for further rulemaking that curtails existing exemptions and accommodations. l Require HRSA to use rulemaking to update the women’s preventive services mandate. The contraceptive mandate issued under Obamacare has been the source of years of egregious attacks on many Americans’ religious and moral beliefs. The mandate was issued as part of the women’s preventive services guidelines, which were issued without any rulemaking that involved public notice and an opportunity to comment. Instead, HRSA issued and changed the mandate by simply posting changes to its website. HRSA also started off not requiring coverage of fertility awareness–based methods of family planning, then requiring them, and then removing the requirement without notifying the public. A federal judge recently ruled that this failure to undergo notice and comment in issuing the mandate is unlawful. HRSA should be required to repromulgate any women’s preventive services mandates through the notice and comment process that is compliant with the Administrative Procedures Act. Moreover, since the Obama Administration HRSA entered into long- term contracts with the pro-abortion American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and related entities to serve as an exclusive adviser with respect to the content of this mandate, HRSA has used this arrangement to ignore comments that members of the public were sometimes able to submit in the process, and ACOG has abused its position to attack HHS’s allowance of religious and moral exemptions to the contraceptive mandate. HHS should rescind these contracts and establish an advisory committee that is compliant with the Federal Advisory Committee Act and has members that are committed to women’s preventive services and are not pro-abortion ideologues. l Expand inclusion of fertility awareness–based methods and supplies to family planning in the women’s preventive services mandate. The ACA requires coverage of and prevents insurance plans from imposing any cost-sharing requirements on women who obtain preventive care and screenings as defined by HRSA. In 2016, HHS included “instruction in fertility awareness-based methods” as part of this requirement. However, in December 2021, HHS removed that language from its list without using the notice-and-comment process or giving any rationale, both of which are mandated by the Administrative Procedures Act. In August

Department of Veterans Affairs

Moderate
Vector: 65%
Pages: 676-678AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The bill's focus on expanding telemedicine to improve veteran access aligns with Project 2025's emphasis on modernizing VA care delivery and addressing shifting veteran demographics, though the specific telemedicine for controlled substances provision is not directly mentioned in the excerpt."

Key themes:telemedicine accessveteran healthcare deliveryshifting demographicsrural/underserved careVA modernization

— 643 — Department of Veterans Affairs with a growth in same-day surgical procedures and outpatient care, so has the VA, and in 2018 Congress added access to private-sector urgent care outlets as one of the VA’s health care benefits. Today, the VA operates 172 inpatient VA Medical Centers (VAMCs), which are an average of 60 years old, and 1,113 Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), which are newer facilities designed to meet the needs of veterans closer to home. The VA also manages a Community Care Network (CCN) through contracts with Optum and TriWest, third-party health care administrators responsible for build- ing and maintaining a robust population of community providers to meet the needs of veterans referred for care outside of the VA system. Currently, approximately 6.4 million veterans out of 18 million nationally (and out of the 9.1 million who are enrolled) use the VA for health care; the remainder use employer-sponsored plans, Tricare, Medicare, and Medicaid. The disability benefits system evolved significantly in the years between the Cold War era and the global war on terrorism, a period when the VA enrolled large numbers of veterans from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam who were seeking disability benefits and health care. Disability compensation is the largest VA benefit, but there also are dozens of others, the next largest of which are the GI Bill and the Home Loan Guaranty. These benefits are administered through 56 Regional Benefits Offices (RBOs) and hundreds of satellite sites around the country. The Agent Orange Act of 19914 significantly expanded the scope of disability ben- efits for those who had deployed to Vietnam, and the cost of those benefits began to increase dramatically as the Vietnam generation of veterans aged and began to expe- rience adverse health conditions, some of which were presumed to have been caused by defoliant chemicals used in Southeast Asia. In 2016 and 2017, a burdensome backlog of appeals of denied disability claims from multiple wartime generations—a backlog numbering in the hundreds of thousands—led to a joint effort by the VA, Vet- eran Service Organizations (VSOs), and Congress to pass legislation that streamlined appeal processes. Implemented in 2017, this historic “good governance” success has helped the VA to reduce the number of these appeals dramatically. The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 20225 addressed adverse health outcomes presumed to be the result of veterans’ exposure to airborne toxins during the global war on terrorism and further expanded disability benefits to the most recent gen- eration of veterans. These ambitious authorities, like the 1991 authorities, have the potential to overwhelm the VA’s ability to process new disability claims and adjudicate appeals. Currently, the VA is seeking to hire large numbers of personnel to process these claims while exploring the use of an automated process to accel- erate claims reviews and decisions. The ever-present lag in the hiring and training of new employees could result in major problems with the timely adjudication of benefits well into the next Administration in 2025. — 644 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise In sum, the VA for the foreseeable future will experience significant fiscal, human capital, and infrastructure crosswinds and risks. Budgets are at historic highs, and with a workforce now above 400,000, the VA is contending with a lack of new veteran enrollees to offset the declining population of older veterans. Recruitment of medical and benefits personnel has become more challenging. Veterans are migrating from the northern states to the southern and western states for retirement and employment. Meanwhile, VA information technol- ogy (IT) is struggling to keep pace with the evolution of patient care and record keeping. Consequently, VA leaders in the next Administration must be wise and courageous political strategists, experienced managers to run day-to-day oper- ations more effectively, innovators to address the changing veteran landscape, and agile “fixers” to mitigate and repair systemic problems created or ignored by the present leadership team. VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (VHA) Needed Reforms l Rescind all departmental clinical policy directives that are contrary to principles of conservative governance starting with abortion services and gender reassignment surgery. Neither aligns with service-connected conditions that would warrant VA’s providing this type of clinical care, and both follow the Left’s pernicious trend of abusing the role of government to further its own agenda. l Focus on the effects of shifting veteran demographics. At least during the next decade, the VA will experience a significant generational shift in its overall patient population. Of the approximately 18 million veterans alive today, roughly 9.1 million are enrolled for VA health care, and 6.4 million of these enrollees use VA health care consistently. These 6.4 million veterans are split almost evenly between those who are over age 65 and those who are under age 65, but the share of VA’s health care dollars is spent predominantly in the over-65 cohort. That share increases significantly as veterans live longer and use the VHA system at a higher rate. VHA enrollments of new users are increasingly at risk of being exceeded by the deaths of current enrollees, primarily because significant numbers of the Vietnam generation are reaching their life expectancy. The generational transition from Vietnam-era veterans to post-9/11 veterans will take several years to complete. The ongoing demographic transition is a catalyst for needed assessments of how the VA can improve the delivery of care to a numerically declining and differently dispersed national population

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About These Correlations

Policy matches are calculated using a hybrid approach: initial candidates are found using semantic similarity between bill summaries and Project 2025 policy text, then an AI model (Llama 3.1 70B) provides detailed alignment ratings and analysis. Ratings range from 1 (minimal alignment) to 5 (very strong alignment). This analysis does not imply direct causation or intent.

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