Veterans’ Telehealth Medications Stalled by Rule Review
In a move that has sparked concern among veterans’ advocates, the Trump administration has initiated a review of all pending federal rules, including key regulations from the DEA and Department of Health and Human Services. These rules were set to expand the range of medications that Veterans Affairs (VA) doctors can prescribe remotely, a development that many had hoped would enhance healthcare access for veterans.
Jacob Thomas of Common Defense highlighted the significant impact this could have on veterans, particularly in Arizona, which hosts one of the largest populations served by the organization. Thomas expressed frustration with the delay, stating, “When we think about how we are helping our veterans through telehealth work, there’s no reason for any of this other than for the cruelty of it to try and cut the services and the resources that veterans have relied on for so long.”
As an Air Force veteran, Thomas is acutely aware of the challenges faced by veterans in rural areas or those with mobility issues. He emphasized the importance of telemedicine, noting, “VA facilities are not McDonald’s, they’re not Starbucks on every corner, right? So ensuring that we can have access to them, even if we are not in the exact city where that facility is, is extremely important.”
The reviewed regulations included provisions for prescribing medications like buprenorphine, crucial for treating opioid use disorder. According to Thomas, the delay is consequential: “There are now veterans who could have had access to this through telehealth medicine that are now no longer able to get those resources. And that is unacceptable.”
Thomas expressed hope that the current administration will reconsider its stance, recognizing a broader pattern in its approach to veteran services that he hopes will soon shift.
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