The Vet CENTERS for Mental Health Act of 2026 requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that every state meets a specific minimum number of mental health treatment centers within one year of enactment. For states in the contiguous United States, this minimum is calculated as the greater of one center per 30,000 square miles of land or one center per 55,000 veterans based on census data. Non-contiguous states and territories must maintain at least one center or match their existing count from January 1, 2020, whichever is higher. To achieve these targets, the Secretary may open new facilities using buildings provided by state, local, or tribal governments, and can establish outstations in place of full centers if multiple additional sites are needed in a single state.
The PEPTIDES for Veterans Act directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to review existing federal regulations regarding peptides and submit a report within 180 days that establishes specific definitions for peptides and peptide-based therapies. Following this initial review, the Department must conduct an 18-month study on the safety and efficacy of these treatments for veterans, focusing on conditions such as chronic pain, mental health, and rehabilitation needs. If the study concludes that these therapies should be made available, the Secretary is required to launch a pilot program lasting up to five years to evaluate their effectiveness in real-world clinical settings. The bill ultimately aims to determine whether peptide-based therapies can be integrated into standard care for veterans based on the findings from the mandated research and pilot evaluation.
The Mobile Medical Unit Rural Expansion Act of 2026 directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to designate a specific office to oversee its mobile medical unit program and conduct a nationwide inventory of these vehicles. The bill requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to assess the feasibility of mandating annual deployments of these units to rural or underserved areas to improve healthcare access for veterans. Additionally, it mandates a comprehensive report to Congress identifying gaps in current capabilities, staffing, and funding barriers, as well as strategies for better engaging local veterans service organizations to optimize deployment locations.
This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to redraw the boundaries of Veterans Integrated Service Network 17 within 180 days of enactment. The change specifically includes Otero County and Eddy County in New Mexico, ensuring these rural areas fall under the oversight of that network. By integrating these counties into the existing network, the legislation aims to standardize how rural veterans receive health care coordination and services.
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.
