United States 115th Congress Status: Passed Senate Bipartisan · 7 R · 6 D cosponsors

S 925 — VETS Act of 2017

Last action — Held at the desk.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Veterans E-Health and Telemedicine Support Act of 2017 or the VETS Act of 2017 This bill allows a licensed health care professional of the Department of Veterans Affairs to practice his or her profession using telemedicine at any location in any state, regardless of where the professional or patient is located.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

42 added · 31 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amended bill S 925 includes language that clarifies the definition of "covered health care professional" and emphasizes adherence to quality standards in the provision of medicine, rather than specifically focusing on telemedicine. It introduces provisions that state federal law will take precedence over conflicting state laws and ensures that no state can revoke a professional's license for actions covered under the new section. Additionally, it maintains obligations under the Controlled Substances Act, ensuring compliance remains intact despite these changes. Overall, these adjustments aim to provide more uniform standards for health care professionals across states.

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925 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
925 Engrossed in Senate (ES)] <DOC> 115th CONGRESS 2d Session S.
925 To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the ability of health care professionals to treat veterans through the use of telemedicine, and for other purposes.
925 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the ability of health care professionals to treat veterans through the use of telemedicine, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 25, 2017 Mrs.
Ernst (for herself and Ms.
Hirono) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the ability of health care professionals to treat veterans through the use of telemedicine, and for other purposes.
``(b) Property of Federal Government.--Subsection (a) shall apply to a covered health care professional providing treatment to a patient regardless of whether the covered health care professional or patient is located in a facility owned by the Federal Government during such treatment.
``(b) Covered Health Care Professionals.--For purposes of this section, a covered health care professional is any health care professional who-- ``(1) is an employee of the Department appointed under the authority under section 7306, 7401, 7405, 7406, or 7408 of this title or title 5;
``(c) Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed to remove, limit, or otherwise affect any obligation of a covered health care professional under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C.
801 et seq.).
``(d) Covered Health Care Professional Defined.--In this section, the term `covered health care professional' means a health care professional who-- ``(1) is an employee of the Department appointed under the authority under section 7306, 7401, 7405, 7406, or 7408 of this title or title 5;
``(3) is required to adhere to all quality standards relating to the provision of telemedicine in accordance with applicable policies of the Department;
``(3) is required to adhere to all standards of quality relating to the provision of medicine in accordance with applicable policies of the Department;
and ``(4) has an active, current, full, and unrestricted license, registration, or certification in a State to practice the health care profession of the health care professional.''.
and ``(4) has an active, current, full, and unrestricted license, registration, or certification in a State to practice the health care profession of the health care professional.
``(c) Property of Federal Government.--Subsection (a) shall apply to a covered health care professional providing treatment to a patient regardless of whether the covered health care professional or patient is located in a facility owned by the Federal Government during such treatment.
``(d) Relation to State Law.--(1) The provisions of this section shall supersede any provisions of the law of any State to the extent that such provision of State law are inconsistent with this section.
``(2) No State shall deny or revoke the license, registration, or certification of a covered health care professional who otherwise meets the qualifications of the State for holding the license, registration, or certification on the basis that the covered health care professional has engaged or intends to engage in activity covered by subsection (a).
``(e) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed to remove, limit, or otherwise affect any obligation of a covered health care professional under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C.
801 et seq.).''.
(c) Report on Telemedicine.-- (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the effectiveness of the use of telemedicine by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(c) Report on Telemedicine.-- (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the earlier of the date on which services provided under section 1730B of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), first occur or regulations are promulgated to carry out such section, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the effectiveness of the use of telemedicine by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(v) The reduction, if any, in the use by veterans of in-person services at Department facilities and non-Department facilities.
(v) The use by veterans of in-person services at Department facilities and non- Department facilities.
(E) The number of appointments for the receipt of telemedicine furnished by the Department that were requested during such period, disaggregated by Veterans Integrated Service Network.
(E) The number of appointments for the receipt of telemedicine furnished by the Department that were requested during such period, disaggregated by medical facility.
(F) Savings by the Department, if any, including travel costs, of furnishing health care through the use of telemedicine during such period.
(F) Savings by the Department, if any, including travel costs, from furnishing health care through the use of telemedicine during such period.
<all>
Passed the Senate January 3, 2018.
Attest:
Secretary.
115th CONGRESS 2d Session S.
925 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the ability of health care professionals to treat veterans through the use of telemedicine, and for other purposes.
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How this bill changes current law

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Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill adds a new section to allow licensed health care professionals of the Department of Veterans Affairs to practice via telemedicine across state lines without being restricted by state licensure laws.

  • 38 U.S.C. § 1730B

    Notwithstanding any provision of law regarding the licensure of health care professionals, a covered health care professional may practice the health care profession of the health care professional at any location in any State, regardless of where the covered health care professional or the patient is located, if the covered health care professional is using telemedicine to provide treatment to an individual under this chapter.

    This allows VA health care professionals to treat patients across state lines using telemedicine.

  • 38 U.S.C. § 1730B

    The provisions of this section shall supersede any provisions of the law of any State to the extent that such provision of State law are inconsistent with this section.

    This ensures that federal telemedicine provisions override conflicting state laws.

  • 38 U.S.C. § 1730B

    No State shall deny or revoke the license, registration, or certification of a covered health care professional who otherwise meets the qualifications of the State for holding the license, registration, or certification on the basis that the covered health care professional has engaged or intends to engage in activity covered by subsection (a).

    States cannot penalize VA health care professionals for practicing telemedicine under federal law.

  • 38 U.S.C. § 1730B

    Nothing in this section may be construed to remove, limit, or otherwise affect any obligation of a covered health care professional under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.).

    This maintains the requirement for compliance with the Controlled Substances Act for telemedicine practices.

  • 38 U.S.C. § 1730B

    A covered health care professional is any health care professional who— (1) is an employee of the Department appointed under the authority under section 7306, 7401, 7405, 7406, or 7408 of this title or title 5; (2) is authorized by the Secretary to provide health care under this chapter; (3) is required to adhere to all standards of quality relating to the provision of medicine in accordance with applicable policies of the Department; and (4) has an active, current, full, and unrestricted license, registration, or certification in a State to practice the health care profession of the health care professional.

    Defines which health care professionals can provide telemedicine services to veterans.

  • 38 U.S.C. § 1730B

    Subsection (a) shall apply to a covered health care professional providing treatment to a patient regardless of whether the covered health care professional or patient is located in a facility owned by the Federal Government during such treatment.

    Extends telemedicine practice to non-Federal facilities for covered health care professionals.

  • 38 U.S.C. § 1730B

    The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1730A the following new item: "1730B. Licensure of health care professionals providing treatment via telemedicine."

    Updates the statutory table to include the new telemedicine licensure section.

Action History

  1. Received in the House.

  2. Held at the desk.

  3. Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  4. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

  5. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

  6. Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S25)

  7. Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

  8. Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

  9. Introduced in Senate

  10. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 12 co-sponsors · 534 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (12)

Not signed on (534)

534 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 534 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

veterans
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does S 925 do?
Veterans E-Health and Telemedicine Support Act of 2017 or the VETS Act of 2017 This bill allows a licensed health care professional of the Department of Veterans Affairs to practice his or her profession using telemedicine at any location in any state, regardless of where the professional or patient is located.
Who sponsors S 925?
S 925 is sponsored by Hirono, Mazie K. (Democratic), Grassley, Chuck (Republican), Hatch, Orrin G. (Republican), Tillis, Thomas (Republican), Tester, Jon (Democratic), Boozman, John (Republican), Rounds, Mike (Republican), Booker, Cory A. (Democratic), Hassan, Margaret Wood (Democratic), Udall, Tom (Democratic), Kennedy, John (Republican), Shaheen, Jeanne (Democratic), and Ernst, Joni (Republican).
What is the current status of S 925?
This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track S 925?
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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