Bill > S2981

This bill establishes a new process for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to create a comprehensive "Prosthetic and Rehabilitative Items and Services Formulary" that will list medical devices and services available to veterans. The formulary will be developed by soliciting input from veterans and the public, relying on the best available scientific evidence, and ensuring that all listed items are available at VA facilities. The VA Secretary will be required to publish the formulary on a department website, update it periodically, and communicate its contents to veterans, including information about how to appeal decisions regarding the provision of items and services. The bill also mandates that VA clinicians can request non-formulary items when medically necessary, and the VA will monitor these requests to potentially add new items to the formulary in the future. Additionally, the VA will be required to enter into contracts to support the availability of formulary items and provide training to clinicians and staff about the formulary. The approach is modeled in part after the VA's Pharmacy Benefits Management Services' method of formulary management, with the goal of creating an efficient and effective system for providing prosthetic and rehabilitative services to veterans.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2981/all-info