Congressman Morgan McGarvey Leads Bipartisan Letter to VA Asking for their Implementation Plan for MDMA-assisted Therapy for Veterans
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 23, 2024) – Today, Representatives Morgan McGarvey (KY-03) and Morgan Luttrell (TX-08) led a bipartisan letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs requesting an explanation of their plan to provide in-house MDMA-assisted therapy to veterans if the treatment is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA may approve MDMA for clinical use in psychedelic-assisted therapy for the treatment of post-traumatic stress as early as summer 2024. The letter requests that the VA produce its strategic plan to implement this therapy upon FDA approval which should include details on items such as implementation timeline, geographic locations, workforce and infrastructure needs, and program evaluation plans.
“VA is the leader in mental health care for veterans, and its providers’ specialized knowledge in treating issues such as combat trauma and military sexual trauma is unmatched by any other healthcare system in this country,” said Rep. McGarvey. “We want to be prepared to support the VA in leading the nation through expanded research and clinical implementation of this novel care model, ensuring veterans receive access to the highest quality mental health care available.”
According to the Veteran Mental Health Leadership Coalition, 71% of participants receiving MDMA-assisted therapy in clinical trials experienced a remission in PTSD symptoms for as long as one year after receiving the therapy. Veterans are more likely than their non-veteran peers to experience major depressive disorder, PTSD, and suicidal ideation. According to a 2024 report by Disabled American Veterans, the suicide rate among women veterans jumped 24.1% in recent years. The letter notes concern that if VA is not prepared to implement emerging psychedelic assisted therapies when they become clinically available, veterans will be left to navigate services outside VA where providers may not have the specialized expertise in addressing their unique needs and the relevant military context of their trauma.
“The effects of emerging therapies for our veterans have been groundbreaking, and I’m proud to be a leader on pushing forward this innovative tool into the proverbial toolbox, especially while moving away from opioids,” said Rep. Luttrell. “As the FDA is finally playing ball to move towards approving these therapies, it’s critical we ensure the VA has an implementation plan and can effectively and efficiently treat veterans.”
Other members of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, including Reps. Jack Bergman (MI-01), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Greg Landsman (OH-01), and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), signed the letter.
The letter can be found HERE.
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