A Republican congressman introduced a bill that would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to inform lawmakers if it added a psychedelic to its list of covered prescription drugs.
Derrick Van Orden, R-WI, introduced the legislation last week. It states that VA is required to report to Congress within 180 days after FDA approval of any psychedelic drugs.
The bill text states that the report must include “the Secretary’s determination whether or not to include the drug in the Department’s formulary” as well as the “justification of such a determination by the Secretary.”
There are currently no psychedelics that can be prescribed as medicine by the federal government. This could change soon, since the FDA has agreed to expedite review of a new drug request for MDMA-assisted treatment.
The FDA had previously recognized MDMA and psilocybin, as breakthrough treatments for post-traumatic disorder (PTSD) or treatment-resistant depression.
The VA issued a separate request for applications last month to conduct research in depth on using psychedelics as a treatment for PTSD and depression.
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The agency launched a podcast in October about the future health care for veterans. , the first episode, focuses on healing potentials of psychedelics.
Van Orden is also the co-sponsor of another bipartisan bill that would provide funding for the Department of Defense to conduct clinical studies into the therapeutic potential of some psychedelics in active duty military personnel. This reform was passed into law by President Joe Biden as part of an amendment to the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act.
The FDA joined scientists recently at a meeting of the public on Next Steps for Conducting Research to Develop Psychedelic Medicine.
This came after FDA released historic draft guidance on studies of psychedelics. It provided scientists with a structure to conduct research that could lead them to develop novel medicines.
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Photo elements are courtesy carlosemmaskype, and Apollo.
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