119-HR-6848 Journalist Public Summary

Headline Summary

A bipartisan‑aimed House bill would waive copays for most veterans using VA “Whole Health” well‑being services and, for others, replace per‑visit charges with a single monthly cap of up to $30. (congress.gov)

What It Does

H.R. 6848 (Whole Health for Veterans Act) tells VA not to charge copays for Whole Health well‑being services for veterans in enrollment priority groups 1–5 and allows VA to charge other veterans a flat monthly copay that cannot exceed $30, instead of paying per visit. The bill defines “Whole Health well‑being services” to include education/coaching and complementary practices such as guided imagery, meditation, tai chi/qigong, and yoga. Why it matters: today, many veterans in groups 6–8 pay about $15 per Whole Health visit; the bill would eliminate those per‑visit fees and cap total monthly out‑of‑pocket costs, which sponsors argue could make preventive, self‑care services easier to afford. (congress.gov)

Who’s For It

• Sponsor: Rep. Chris Deluzio (D‑PA) introduced the bill on December 18, 2025. (congress.gov)
• VA leadership previously pushed to exempt many Whole Health services from copays, saying it would improve access to preventive care; the bill aligns with that direction. (news.va.gov)
• Some national veterans groups have highlighted and tracked VA’s Whole Health expansion; interest in these services within VA has grown alongside published evaluations. (jamanetwork.com)

Who’s Against It

• As of April 17, 2026, no formal opposition statements are posted on Congress.gov and no CBO cost estimate is yet listed. (congress.gov)
• Skeptics sometimes question the evidence base for certain complementary and integrative therapies; reviews note benefits for some conditions but mixed or limited evidence for others, which could inform reservations about expanding no‑copay coverage. (rand.org)

What’s Next

Where it stands: Congress.gov shows the bill was referred to the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health on January 29, 2026. The subcommittee held a markup on April 16, 2026, that listed H.R. 6848 on its agenda; if advanced, the bill would next move to the full committee before any House floor action. (Congress.gov may update actions after committee postings.) (congress.gov)