Sponsors (2)
The bill expands VA access to and research on innovative (including psychedelic-assisted) therapies for many veterans and builds national research infrastructure, but does so at added federal cost, with safety and regulatory risks, potential diversion of existing VA funds, possible centralization of services, and reduced advisory transparency.
Veterans with PTSD, chronic pain, depression, substance-use disorders, Parkinson’s, bipolar disorder, or anxiety gain access to specialized VA centers offering innovative therapies (including psychedelic-assisted approaches) through a nationwide program.
The bill establishes at least five national centers with funding (~$30M authorized per year) and requires creation of data repositories and consortia, expanding VA research, clinical trials, and education capacity for novel treatments.
Centers must be selected by peer review and report to Congress, promoting scientific and clinical merit, oversight, and accountability for center activities.
Veterans receiving care could face safety, regulatory, and liability risks because the clinical programs may use Schedule I/II psychedelics and other controlled substances.
The program increases federal spending (~$30M authorized per year) and authorizes transfers from VA medical/prosthetics research accounts, raising taxpayer costs and risking diversion of existing VA resources from other care priorities.
Restrictive affiliation, workforce, and infrastructure requirements may centralize services at designated centers, delaying or limiting local access—particularly for rural and remote veterans.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Designates at least five VA facilities as Innovative Therapies Centers of Excellence, sets selection and reporting rules, and authorizes $30M/year for research and education.
Introduced March 9, 2026 by Ruben Gallego · Last progress March 9, 2026
Designates at least five VA medical facilities as Innovative Therapies Centers of Excellence to support clinical care, research, education, and coordinated delivery of certain "innovative therapies" for specified conditions. It sets competitive designation criteria judged by a peer review panel, requires expert review and annual reporting to Veterans’ Affairs committees, and authorizes $30 million per year for research and education at the centers while allowing the Under Secretary to reallocate additional VA medical funds to support the program.