Bipartisan legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) to improve and increase access to telemedicine for America’s military veterans on Sept. 22 received approval by the U.S. House of Representatives, which advanced the bill to the U.S. Senate.
The VA Mission Telemedicine Clarification Act, H.R. 3228, which Rep. Carter introduced in June 2019 with original cosponsors including U.S. Rep. Ann Kuster (D-NH), would ensure trainees who are satisfying professional training program requirements may use the telemedicine system under supervision by an appropriately credentialed VA staff member.
“The VA MISSION Telehealth Clarification Act is a simple bill that builds on the VA Mission Act’s historic expansion of the veterans’ health system,” said Rep. Carter on the House floor prior to the chamber’s passage. “The bill began as the result of a visit to the VA facility before the current pandemic, as they laid out some of the issues they were trying to overcome. But now, with the COVID-19 pandemic, we are seeing how extremely beneficial these technologies can be for our veterans.”
Rep. Carter also noted that the VA Medical Center in Charleston, S.C., which serves part of his district along Georgia’s coast, had a more than 200-percent increase in telehealth medical services during the pandemic when he spoke to them in May.
“Even more incredibly, the VA announced it had a 1000-percent increase in telehealth video appointments using its VA Video Connect Program during the first months of the pandemic,” said the congressman. “This is an extremely important ability for the VA to have; however, the law did not authorize trainees within the VA to use telehealth technologies — only practitioners with a full license.”
Therefore, Rep. Carter said, as the use of telehealth medicine becomes increasingly more widespread, interns, residents, and fellows should be able to gain experience using these services. “Especially considering that many of these trainees later go on to work as doctors at the VA, bringing with them a wealth of experience,” he said.
H.R. 3228 also would expand the ability to practice telemedicine “to all appropriately qualified health care professionals at VA — fixing this issue once and for all,” said Rep. Carter.
The Senate on Sept. 23 received the bill for consideration and placed the measure on the U.S. Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders.