When the Covid pandemic began in the U.S. in March 2020, patient care was forced to quickly reimagine itself as hospitals became overcrowded and staff were overstrained. In October 2022 the CDC reported that 37% of U.S. adults use telemedicine, including 43.3% of adults over 65. The Department of Veterans Affairs, which serves over 9 million American veterans has also been proactive in embracing the new era of telehealth. According to the VA, one in three veterans use telehealth capabilities when receiving care from the VA.

With more veterans than ever seeking medical assistance virtually, the VA has had to advance its remote patient care capabilities. In May 2023, the VA announced that four companies have been selected to potentially win an 8-year, $1 billion contract to help the VA roll out systems and supplies for telehealth functions.

This initiative is one of several the VA has committed to in the past decade, and this report will look at what those initiatives are and their effectiveness in providing veterans with virtual care.