Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act of 2025

# Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act of 2025 - Summary **What it does:** This bill would allow VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) doctors and health care providers to permanently prescribe controlled substances—such as pain medications, anxiety drugs, and other prescription medications—to veterans through telemedicine (video calls, phone calls, or other remote means) without requiring an in-person visit first. Currently, federal law generally requires doctors to conduct face-to-face exams before prescribing controlled substances remotely. This bill creates an exception for the VA system. **Who it affects:** Veterans who receive healthcare through the VA would benefit by gaining easier access to prescribed medications without traveling to a medical facility.

VA healthcare providers would have expanded flexibility in how they deliver care. The bill applies only to VA providers and VA-eligible patients, not to the broader healthcare system. **Key requirements:** Providers must be properly licensed to prescribe the specific type of controlled substance, must be acting as part of their normal professional duties, and must have a legitimate medical reason for the prescription. The bill maintains safety guardrails while removing the in-person examination requirement. **Status:** The bill passed the House and is currently awaiting consideration in the Senate.