On the recordFebruary 7, 2019
I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I want to make note that we just have gotten a release that the VA has exceeded 1 million telehealth visits in fiscal year 2018. That one-year achievement represents a 19 percent increase over the previous year. I congratulate the VA for that amazing achievement. I want to make known my support for my good colleague from the Northern Mariana Islands, Mr. Sablan's, amendment, because as VA expands its footprint--and we have just seen how it has expanded its footprint significantly--and that it remains at the forefront of providing treatment via telemental health services, we need to ensure that the VA has the ability to make those telehealth services as successful as their in-person services. In districts like Mr. Sablan's where veterans are separated from VA healthcare services by the Pacific Ocean, telemental health is often the only manner in which veterans are able to receive mental healthcare from the VA. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for offering this very important amendment and I urge my colleagues to support it.
