Overview

Title

To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to report on whether the Secretary will include certain psychedelic drugs in the formulary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

ELI5 AI

The bill wants the person in charge of helping veterans with their medicine to check if new special drugs can be given to veterans. They have to tell some important people their decision pretty quickly after the drugs get a green light.

Summary AI

H. R. 7347 aims to amend title 38 of the United States Code to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to report to Congress on whether certain newly approved or licensed psychedelic drugs will be added to the Department of Veterans Affairs' formulary. This includes submitting a report to the Veterans' Affairs committees of both the House and Senate within 180 days after a psychedelic drug receives approval or licensing. The report must outline the Secretary's decision and provide reasoning for whether the drug will be included in the formulary for veterans' treatment.

Published

2024-09-06
Congress: 118
Session: 2
Chamber: HOUSE
Status: Reported in House
Date: 2024-09-06
Package ID: BILLS-118hr7347rh

Keywords AI

veterans affairs psychedelic drugs formulary report to congress secretary of veterans affairs title 38 amendment drug approval veteran treatment legislative requirements drug licensing

Sources

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
2
Words:
485
Pages:
6
Sentences:
8

Language

Nouns: 159
Verbs: 39
Adjectives: 15
Adverbs: 4
Numbers: 33
Entities: 45

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.34
Average Sentence Length:
60.62
Token Entropy:
4.48
Readability (ARI):
32.91

AnalysisAI

Summary of the Bill

The proposed bill, titled H.R. 7347, aims to amend title 38 of the United States Code. Its primary purpose is to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a report to Congress within 180 days after a psychedelic drug receives approval or licensing. This report would determine whether such a drug will be added to the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) formulary—a list of medications that the VA provides to veterans. The report must also include the Secretary's justification for their decision.

Summary of Significant Issues

While the bill outlines a clear duty for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, it presents some notable issues:

  1. Lack of Criteria for Decision-Making: The bill does not provide specific guidelines or criteria for the Secretary to use when deciding whether to include a psychedelic drug in the VA's formulary. This absence of defined criteria might lead to arbitrary or biased decisions.

  2. Timeline Ambiguities: The bill specifies a reporting deadline of "not later than 180 days," but it is unclear when this timeline begins. This ambiguity could lead to delays or misunderstandings regarding the reporting process.

  3. Lack of Guidelines for Justification: While the bill requires the Secretary to justify their decision, it does not specify which factors or evidence should be considered. This lack of specificity could result in inconsistent decision-making.

  4. No Recourse for Non-Inclusion: If the Secretary decides not to include a drug in the formulary, the bill does not provide any recourse for appealing such a decision. This could be a concern for veterans and stakeholders who may feel unjustly denied access to potentially beneficial medications.

Impact on the Public

This bill has the potential to impact a broad section of the public, particularly veterans who might benefit from psychedelic therapies. By focusing on the inclusion of psychedelic drugs, the bill addresses a growing interest in unconventional treatment options for conditions like PTSD and depression, which are prevalent among veterans. However, the lack of clarity in the decision-making process may lead to inconsistent availability of these treatments, potentially affecting veterans' access to new therapies.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

Veterans: Veterans could experience both positive and negative effects. On the positive side, the bill could lead to faster consideration and potential inclusion of innovative treatments. On the downside, the lack of clear guidelines and recourse mechanisms may leave veterans uncertain about when or if they can access these treatments.

Healthcare Providers in the VA: The bill also impacts healthcare providers within the VA system. Without specified guidelines, they might face challenges in advocating for the approval of certain drugs, possibly complicating treatment plans that incorporate psychedelic therapies.

Veterans' Advocacy Groups: These groups may find the bill somewhat disappointing due to its lack of defined criteria and an appeals process. They might advocate for amendments to address these shortcomings to ensure fair and timely access to approved drugs.

In summary, while the bill aims to expedite the process for including new psychedelic drugs in the VA formulary, its effectiveness could be hindered by unclear guidance and procedural gaps. A more structured approach might enhance its impact and ensure equitable access to innovative treatments for veterans.

Issues

  • The section does not specify any criteria or guidelines for the determination made by the Secretary, which could lead to arbitrary or biased decisions. This lack of clarity may be significant both legally and ethically, as it could affect how veterans access potentially life-changing medications. (Section 1)

  • No timeline is provided for when the Secretary must start the determination process after the drug is approved, leading to potential delays in important health treatments for veterans. This could generate legal and political concerns regarding accountability and efficiency. (Section 1)

  • There is no mention of which factors or evidence should be considered by the Secretary in the justification for including or not including a drug, potentially leading to inconsistencies in decision-making. This could raise ethical and legal questions about transparency and fairness. (Section 1)

  • The section does not specify what happens if the Secretary decides not to include a drug in the formulary, or any recourse for appealing such a decision. This omission might pose legal and ethical challenges and would be of particular concern to stakeholders like veterans and advocacy groups. (Section 1)

  • The language 'not later than 180 days' may be ambiguous because it does not specify from what point the countdown begins, potentially causing legal misunderstandings and delays in the implementation process. This is both a legal and bureaucratic issue that may need clarification to ensure effective policy execution. (Section 1)

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Reporting of determination of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs whether to include newly approved or licensed psychedelic drugs in the formulary of the Department of Veterans Affairs Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to report to Congress within 180 days on whether newly approved or licensed psychedelic drugs will be included in the Department of Veterans Affairs' list of approved medications, along with the reasons for their decision.

8125A. Reporting of determination whether to include newly approved or licensed psychedelic drugs in the formulary of the Department Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The Secretary is required to report to Congress within 180 days after a newly approved or licensed psychedelic drug is approved or licensed, detailing whether the drug will be added to the Department’s formulary and providing reasons for the decision.