Washington, DC—August 6, 2024…Today, Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) introduced the Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act of 2024. This bill would permanently extend a current pandemic related exemption that allows health care professionals employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to deliver, distribute, and dispense medically necessary controlled substances to veterans via telemedicine under certain conditions regardless of whether that health care professional has conducted the one in-person medical examination required under the Ryan Haight Act.
Congressman Womack said, “Our veterans deserve accessible health care, regardless of where they live. Millions of veterans—particularly in rural communities—rely on the VA's successful use of telehealth services. This bill acknowledges and meets their needs by permanently authorizing the delivery of care right to their homes. America is indebted to our veterans for their service, and it’s our duty to ensure they have the resources to live a healthy life.”
Background:
The Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008 was enacted on April 13, 2009. This bill was designed to combat the rogue internet pharmacies that proliferated in the late 90s, selling controlled substances online.
Under this Act, a practitioner is required to have conducted at least one in-person medical evaluation of the patient, in the physical presence of the practitioner, before issuing a prescription for a controlled substance.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, requirements under the Ryan Haight Act for a patient to meet with a practitioner in-person for the prescription of a controlled substance were temporarily waived.
On October 6, 2023, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the continuation of temporary extension of flexibilities around telemedicine prescribing of controlled substances from the COVID-19 public health emergency through December 31, 2024.
Bill Impact on Veterans in Rural Areas:
According to the VA’s Office of Rural Health, there are more than 2.7 million veterans in rural communities who are enrolled in and rely on the VA’s health care system.
Veterans residing in rural areas do not have the same access to VA health care as those in more suburban and urban areas, which can result in poor long-term health outcomes.
Due to lack of immediate access to VA clinics, veterans residing in rural areas often have difficulty complying with the requirement for one in-person visit to their health care provider under the Ryan Haight Act.
This bill would reduce disparities and improve access to VA health care for veterans in rural areas by allowing VA health care professionals to prescribe controlled substances via telemedicine.
If the current exemption expires at the end of the year, veteran access to certain medications classified as a controlled substance will be severely restricted.
