VA Mandated to Deliver Telehealth and Mail-Order Meds to Vets in Freely Associated States Within One Year

This new legislation, the “US Vets of the FAS Act,” is a focused effort to close a significant healthcare gap for veterans living in the Freely Associated States (FAS). Basically, it tells the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that they have to start providing essential health services—specifically telehealth and mail-order pharmaceutical delivery—to vets in these Pacific island nations. This isn’t a suggestion; it’s a mandate that comes with a tight deadline.

The Clock Starts Now: One Year to Delivery

For veterans in the FAS, access to consistent VA care has been a major logistical hurdle. This bill aims to fix that by forcing the VA to move fast. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must start outreach to the governments of the Freely Associated States within 30 days of the bill becoming law. More importantly, the VA must finalize the required agreements and start furnishing those telehealth and mail-order services within one year. This aggressive timeline means the VA can’t drag its feet—they have to figure out the logistics of delivering prescriptions and virtual appointments across vast ocean distances, and they have to do it quickly. The bill does include a slight caveat, allowing the VA to proceed “to the maximum extent possible,” but the pressure is clearly on the one-year mark.

Healthcare by Satellite and Snail Mail

The required services are smart solutions for remote locations. Telehealth means a veteran won't necessarily need to travel thousands of miles for a routine check-up or mental health appointment; they can connect virtually. The mandatory mail-order pharmacy service is equally critical, ensuring that veterans with chronic conditions can receive their necessary medications without the often-impossible travel required to reach a physical VA facility. This is the real-world impact: making sure a veteran in a remote location can actually get their blood pressure medication or talk to a doctor without leaving their home island.

The Cost of Accountability

While this is a clear win for the veterans involved, it creates immediate administrative pressure on the VA. The bill requires the VA to submit a report to Congress every three months, detailing the implementation progress and, crucially, the associated costs. If the VA hits a roadblock—say, technical issues with setting up reliable telehealth infrastructure or logistical challenges with mail delivery—they have to report exactly what’s impeding progress. This quarterly reporting requirement is designed to keep the VA accountable and prevent the project from stalling out. Furthermore, the bill amends existing law regarding beneficiary travel payments, ensuring that if the VA uses its authority to pay for travel for veterans in the FAS, those payments must be made starting one year after the law is enacted. This ensures that travel costs, if necessary, are covered for those who need to move between islands for care.