Under the proposed VA pilot program, eligible veterans would be linked with qualified community-based virtual treatment providers in situations where timely care from the VA is not available.
WILMINGTON, NC, UNITED STATES, August 6, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Project VBOT and The Recovery Platform once again voiced their backing for the Virtual-Based Opioid Treatment for Veterans Act, which was introduced on a bipartisan basis by U.S. Representatives Deborah Ross (D-N.C.), Carol Miller (R-W.Va.), and Don Davis (D-N.C.).
The legislation would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to launch a two-year pilot program under the Veterans Community Care Program. Under this plan, veterans diagnosed with opioid use disorder who are eligible could be matched with qualified community-based virtual treatment providers if VA facilities are unable to offer timely care. The pilot is intended to complement—not substitute for—care provided directly by the VA.
Veterans living in rural or underserved areas often face obstacles such as travel distance to treatment facilities, a shortage of available providers, transportation difficulties, and extended wait times—all of which can postpone care precisely when someone is prepared to embark on recovery. Both Project VBOT and The Recovery Platform endorse the legislation’s emphasis on eliminating these hurdles while maintaining clinical standards, accountability, and the VA’s essential function in veteran healthcare.
“A veteran’s opportunity to begin treatment should not depend on how close they live to a clinic or whether a specialist has an opening at precisely the right moment. This bipartisan bill recognizes that qualified virtual care can provide a responsible bridge when timely VA care is not available. We are proud to support a proposal that puts access, continuity and the needs of veterans first.” — Reynold Yordy, CTO, The Recovery Platform
Project VBOT represents a clinician-led virtual treatment approach established by the North Carolina Medical Society Foundation together with The Recovery Platform, aimed at broadening access to evidence-based care for opioid use disorder. Meanwhile, The Recovery Platform functions as a cutting-edge technology system that equips providers and community partners with the tools to offer accessible, retention-focused virtual treatment infrastructure.
“The practical lesson from virtual treatment is straightforward: when care is easier to reach, more people have a realistic opportunity to start treatment and stay connected to it. This pilot would allow the VA to evaluate a structured community-care pathway for veterans who might otherwise face delays, distance or a shortage of nearby specialists.” — David Bolton, Clinical Director, Project VBOT
According to the congressional announcement, VA research encompassing over 17,000 veterans prescribed buprenorphine found that those who had any telehealth component in their care were more likely to stay in treatment for a minimum of 90 days compared to those who received only in-person care.
Project VBOT and The Recovery Platform call on lawmakers to maintain bipartisan review of the bill and to involve veterans, healthcare professionals, community treatment organizations, and VA officials
