The proposed VA pilot would connect eligible veterans to qualified community-based virtual providers when timely VA care is unavailable.
WILMINGTON, NC, UNITED STATES, August 6, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Project VBOT and The Recovery Platform restated their endorsement of the Virtual-Based Opioid Treatment for Veterans Act today, following its bipartisan introduction by U.S. Reps. Deborah Ross (D-N.C.), Carol Miller (R-W.Va.) and Don Davis (D-N.C.).
The legislation would direct the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to launch a two-year pilot through the Veterans Community Care Program. Under the plan, eligible veterans dealing with opioid use disorder could be linked to qualified community-based virtual treatment providers when VA facilities cannot offer timely care. The pilot is intended to complement—not replace—care provided directly by the VA.
For veterans living in rural and underserved areas, factors such as the travel distance to a treatment site, scarce provider availability, transportation difficulties, and extended wait times can postpone care exactly when a person is ready to begin recovery. Project VBOT and The Recovery Platform back the bill’s emphasis on eliminating those obstacles while preserving clinical quality, accountability, and the VA’s essential role in veteran care.
“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 is a clinician-led virtual treatment model established by the North Carolina Medical Society Foundation and The Recovery Platform to broaden access to evidence-based care for opioid use disorder. The Recovery Platform is an innovative technology system that enables providers and community partners to deliver 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
The congressional announcement references VA research involving more than 17,000 veterans receiving buprenorphine. Veterans who received at least some care via telehealth were more likely to remain in treatment for a minimum of 90 days than those who received care exclusively in person.
Project VBOT and The Recovery Platform call on members of Congress to maintain bipartisan deliberation on the legislation and to involve veterans, clinicians, community treatment providers, and VA leaders as the bill moves forward and, if enacted, as the pilot’s standards and implementation framework are developed.
About Project VBOT
Project VBOT is a clinician-led virtual treatment model founded by the North Carolina Medical Society Foundation and The Recovery Platform to expand access to evidence-based care for opioid use disorder. The model integrates medical care, counseling, peer support, and care navigation through a coordinated virtual approach. Learn more at projectvbot.com.
About The Recovery Platform
The Recovery Platform is an innovative technology platform that enables providers and community partners to deliver accessible, retention-focused virtual treatment infrastructure. The Recovery Platform's cutting-edge technology drives clinical workflow and patient engagement to increase clinician efficiency, patient retention, and outcomes by eliminating treatment barriers. Learn more at therecoveryplatform.com.
Zach Herrmann, VP of Marketing
The Recovery Platform
zherrmann@therecoveryplatform.com
