Arlington, VA – Today Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), a National Guard veteran, reintroduced bipartisan legislation called the VETS Act that would give veterans better access to telehealth services.
Under current law, VA doctors can provide telehealth services, but not across state lines – limiting the options for veterans who live in rural states and forcing many of them to travel significant distances to reach a physical VA facility.
Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) Executive Director Mark Lucas issued the following statement:
“We applaud Senator Ernst for acting to remove bureaucratic obstacles put in place by the VA. When it comes to giving veterans the care they need, state lines shouldn’t matter at all – let alone when they’re seeking telehealth services over the phone or online. The VA makes getting health care an unnecessarily cumbersome process, and many veterans who urgently need medical attention are suffering as a result. Giving veterans better access to health care should be a top priority of Congress right now.”
A bipartisan House version has also been introduced.
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