What does ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE OF NOVEL THERAPEUTICS WITHIN VETERANS of Veterans Health Administration Novel Therapeutics Preparedness Act do?

This section establishes a new subchapter VI, titled 'Novel Therapeutics,' within Chapter 73 of title 38 of the United States Code. It creates an Office of Novel Therapeutics within the Veterans Health Administration, under the Office of the Under Secretary for Health. The Office will be led by a Director with expertise in clinical research and implementation science. The Office's duties include developing national policy, guidance, and clinical standards for evaluating and implementing emerging therapeutic interventions for mental health conditions affecting veterans. A Clinical Implementation Program for Emerging Therapeutics is established to evaluate the effectiveness, feasibility, safety, and scalability of these interventions. The Secretary may designate medical centers as 'centers of excellence' for novel therapeutics. A Veteran Advisory Committee on Novel Therapeutics will advise the Office on patient safety, informed consent, and other considerations. The Secretary is required to coordinate with other federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration. The Secretary must submit an annual report to Congress detailing research activities, clinical outcomes, safety events, and recommendations for action related to novel therapeutics.

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Veterans Health Administration Novel Therapeutics Preparedness Act

Q: What does Preamble of Veterans Health Administration Novel Therapeutics Preparedness Act do?

This bill aims to amend title 38, United States Code. It proposes establishing an Office of Novel Therapeutics within the Veterans Health Administration. The bill is intended for other purposes as well, though these are not specified in this section.

Q: What does SHORT TITLE. of Veterans Health Administration Novel Therapeutics Preparedness Act do?

This bill is formally titled the Veterans Health Administration Novel Therapeutics Preparedness Act

Q: What does FINDINGS. of Veterans Health Administration Novel Therapeutics Preparedness Act do?

This section outlines findings related to emerging therapeutic interventions for mental health conditions affecting veterans. It notes that therapies like psychedelic-assisted therapies may significantly alter treatment for PTSD, depression, and other mental health conditions. The text indicates that administering these therapies may require specialized resources and differ from traditional outpatient mental health services. The Department of Veterans Affairs is considered uniquely positioned to provide integrated, veteran-centered care. The section expresses concern that without centralized governance, the Department may experience delays, safety risks, or inconsistent access. It proposes establishing an Office of Novel Therapeutics to ensure responsible evaluation, research, and implementation of emerging treatments.

Last updated: 4/29/2026 · Introduced: 3/26/2026

Author: Tim Sheehy (R-MT)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill establishes an Office of Novel Therapeutics within the Veterans Health Administration to develop national policy and standards for evaluating and implementing emerging mental health treatments for veterans.
The bill creates a Clinical Implementation Program to assess the effectiveness, safety, and scalability of novel therapeutic interventions.
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to coordinate with other federal agencies and submit an annual report to Congress on novel therapeutics research and outcomes.

119th Congressin committeeOfficial page

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Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 2 more.

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