The Virtual-Based Opioid Treatment for Veterans Act directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to launch a two-year pilot program aimed at expanding access to virtual opioid treatment for enrolled veterans who face barriers to in-person care. This initiative requires the VA to conduct outreach, build referral networks, and coordinate with other federal agencies to connect veterans with telehealth programs that combine medication and counseling in a single visit. The bill also mandates a study on treatment barriers and requires annual reports to Congress on the program's progress until the opioid crisis is no longer considered a public health emergency.
This bill, known as the Reducing Military Health Care Wait Times Act, requires the Department of Defense to publish specific data on military medical wait times on its website. It directly affects service members, veterans, and their families by making information about appointment scheduling and referral speeds publicly available. The law mandates that the annual TRICARE Program Evaluation Report include the average number of days between booking and receiving an appointment, as well as the percentage of referrals processed within one business day. Additionally, it updates existing federal code to ensure these core performance metrics are consistently reported alongside other required data.
This bill officially renames the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, to honor Sergeant First Class Floyd E. Lake. The primary change requires all future legal documents, maps, and records to refer to the facility by its new, longer title. This legislative action is purely commemorative and does not alter the clinic's operations, funding, or the services it provides to veterans.
This bill directs the Director of the Defense Health Agency to submit a report to Congress on whether it is feasible to create a pilot fellowship program for behavioral neurology. The proposed program would train two medical doctors each year to treat service members and veterans with traumatic brain injuries, focusing on the connection between behavior and brain trauma. To qualify, fellows must hold a medical degree and have completed a residency in neurology or psychiatry, though board certification is not required to participate. The report must evaluate potential locations for the program and confirm that it meets specific requirements, including accreditation and the ability for fellows to pursue future board certification.
This bill designates the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, as the "Lieutenant Colonel David C. Canegata III Department of Veterans Affairs Community-Based Outpatient Clinic." The change requires that all federal laws, regulations, maps, and official documents refer to the facility by its new name instead of its previous designation. This legislative action honors Lieutenant Colonel David C. Canegata III by permanently updating the official name of the clinic.
The Protecting Home-Based Care for Rural Veterans Act of 2026 aims to maintain and stabilize funding for home health services for veterans, particularly in rural areas. It requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to restore any reimbursement rates for home care services that were lowered after December 31, 2025, and prevents future rate cuts without notifying Congress at least 90 days in advance. Additionally, the bill mandates annual reports to Congress on whether there are enough care providers to meet veteran demand and identifies any regions with shortages. The legislation also requires an initial report within 90 days detailing how the VA calculates these payment rates, including the data sources and methods used.
The Veteran Suicide Spousal Career Services Act expands eligibility for the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program to include spouses of veterans, as well as spouses of service members who died in the line of duty or by suicide related to a service-connected disability. By amending existing federal law, the bill ensures these eligible persons can access the career counseling and support services previously reserved for veterans. This change directly affects the families of those who served, allowing them to utilize the program's resources without needing to meet the veteran status requirement themselves. The legislation focuses on broadening the definition of who qualifies for assistance rather than creating new types of services or funding.
The POPCaP Act of 2026 establishes a precision oncology program within the Department of Veterans Affairs specifically for veterans diagnosed with prostate cancer. To deliver this care, the bill designates 21 existing VA medical centers across the country as provisional centers of excellence, requiring each to perform genetic sequencing, participate in clinical trials, and maintain specific staffing levels including oncologists and researchers. These centers will operate under a centralized leadership team that coordinates research activities, manages a national data registry, and ensures veterans have access to the latest biomarker-specific treatments. The legislation authorizes $15.5 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2029 to fund the program and mandates annual reports to Congress detailing patient outcomes and research progress.
This bill directs the Department of Defense to review clinical trial data on psilocybin treatment for veterans and servicemembers with treatment-resistant PTSD. It requires the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs to submit a report within 180 days analyzing the safety, dosing, and feasibility of these findings for military personnel, including those transitioning to civilian life. The report must also assess legal requirements for expanded access to the substance and outline plans for future pilot programs or research starting in fiscal year 2027. Additionally, the legislation mandates coordination with the Department of Veterans Affairs and other federal agencies to ensure continuity of care and appropriate regulatory oversight.
The TOURS Act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to produce an annual report and briefing on suicide prevention efforts for Congress. It also mandates a two-year study starting in 2027 to examine how veterans' use of chaplain services and faith-based programs relates to suicide risk. The study must track specific engagement activities while strictly protecting patient confidentiality and ensuring that using these services remains entirely voluntary. Finally, the VA must submit detailed findings and recommendations to Congress within 90 days after each year of the study concludes.
