Innovative Therapies Centers of Excellence Act of 2025

This bill requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to designate at least five VA medical facilities as innovative therapies centers of excellence, to be established and operated subject to appropriations. The centers will focus on research, education, and clinical activities for certain mental health and pain conditions using specified innovative therapies.

Sec. 2, Designation of centers: The Secretary, on the Under Secretary for Health's recommendation, must designate at least five VA medical facilities as innovative therapies centers of excellence, ensuring appropriate geographic distribution. A facility can only be designated if a peer review panel finds its proposal meets the highest scientific and clinical merit standards, and if the facility has or can develop arrangements with accredited medical schools, psychiatry schools, and social work schools; can attract innovative scientists; has an advisory committee of veterans and medical representatives; can evaluate its activities; can coordinate education, clinical, and research activities nationally; can develop a consortium of providers for better access to innovative therapies; and can create a national data repository on veterans receiving innovative therapies.

Sec. 2, Peer review panel: The Under Secretary for Health must establish a panel of experts in innovative therapies to assess the scientific and clinical merit of proposals. Panel members serve up to two years, with initial members serving staggered two- or three-year terms. The panel reviews proposals and submits its views to the Under Secretary. The panel is not subject to chapter 10 of title 5.

Sec. 2, Annual report: Starting two years after enactment, the Under Secretary for Health must submit an annual report to the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees on the centers' activities, including a summary of activities, key findings, recommendations to improve delivery of innovative therapies to veterans, and other relevant matters.

Sec. 2, Authorization of appropriations: $30,000,000 is authorized for each fiscal year for the centers' research and education activities. The Under Secretary for Health may also allocate additional funds from the Department's medical services and medical and prosthetics research accounts.

Sec. 2, Definitions: 'Covered condition' includes anxiety, bipolar disorder, chronic pain, depression, Parkinson's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorder, and other conditions designated by the Under Secretary. 'Innovative therapy' includes 3,4-Methylenedioxy-methamphetamine, 5-Methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine, ibogaine, ketamine, psilocybin, and other therapies designated by the Under Secretary.