The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has proposed eliminating copayments for all VA telehealth services and establishing a grant program aimed at enhancing access to telehealth, particularly for veterans in rural and underserved communities. This announcement aligns with ongoing efforts by the VA and the Biden-Harris Administration to reduce healthcare costs and improve service accessibility for veterans.
The new grant initiative, Accessing Telehealth through Local Area Stations (ATLAS), will fund organizations, including nonprofits and private businesses, to create spaces equipped with high-speed internet and necessary technology for remote consultations with VA providers. The grants will also allocate resources for training personnel to support this program on-site.
These proposals are part of a broader effort by the VA to expand healthcare access, especially as VA services are reportedly surpassing non-VA care in performance, earning unprecedented trust from veterans, and increasing appointment availability. In September, the VA introduced nationwide tele-emergency care to enhance emergency service access. Additionally, this year saw the waiver of copays for veterans' first three outpatient mental health visits annually, reduced wait times for primary care and mental health appointments, extended clinic hours during nights and weekends, and an increase in daily clinic scheduling.
"Waiving copays for telehealth services and launching this grant program are both major steps forward in ensuring Veterans can access health care where and when they need it," stated VA Secretary Denis McDonough. "VA is the best and most affordable care in America for Veterans — with these steps, we can make it easier for Veterans to access their earned VA health care."
Details on this rulemaking can be found in the Federal Register under public inspection starting tomorrow. The rule will be open for comment beginning Wednesday via the VA’s Federal Register webpage. A notice regarding funding opportunities related to this grant program is expected following the publication of the final rule.
Further information about VA telehealth services is available on their website.
