THRIVE Act of 2025 Transforming Healing, Resilience, and Integrative Veteran Engagement Act of 2025

This bill, known as the Transforming Healing, Resilience, and Integrative Veteran Engagement (THRIVE) Act of 2025, aims to improve access to and integration of complementary and integrative health therapies for veterans within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system. It establishes an Interagency Task Force on Complementary and Integrative Health to evaluate the effectiveness of alternative therapies, identify barriers to implementation, and make recommendations for expanding access to these treatments for veterans with mental health conditions like PTSD, TBI, depression, and anxiety, as well as for suicide prevention. The bill seeks to incorporate peer-led models and community-based programs into the VA's continuum of care, with the ultimate goal of enhancing veterans' mental health and overall well-being.

The bill's core provision is the establishment of the Interagency Task Force on Complementary and Integrative Health/Whole Health within 90 days of enactment [§2(a)]. The task force is charged with assessing current access to complementary and integrative health therapies at VA facilities, developing a framework to determine their effectiveness, and making recommendations for expanding or modifying access to these therapies [§2(c)]. The task force must evaluate specific therapies such as acupuncture, meditation, yoga, and peer-supported programs for treating conditions like PTSD, TBI, depression, and anxiety [§2(c)(2)(A)]. It is also required to analyze factors contributing to treatment dropout and low retention among veterans, and propose ways to improve outcomes [§2(c)(5)]. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must submit a report to Congressional committees on the task force's recommendations within 90 days of receiving them [§2(e)(1)], followed by a plan to address these recommendations within 180 days after the initial report [§2(e)(2)].

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is responsible for establishing the task force and ensuring its diverse composition, which includes representatives from various VA offices, other federal agencies, academic institutions, and veterans service organizations [§2(b)]. The task force is required to submit its recommendations to the Secretary within one year of its establishment [§2(d)]. The Secretary must then report these recommendations to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives, followed by a detailed implementation plan. The bill does not specify direct funding mechanisms for the task force or the implementation of its recommendations. Compliance measures and enforcement provisions are not explicitly outlined, suggesting that the effectiveness of the bill's implementation will largely depend on the VA's internal processes and Congressional oversight through the required reports.

The primary beneficiaries of this bill are veterans receiving care through the VA healthcare system, particularly those with mental health conditions or at risk of suicide. By expanding access to complementary and integrative health therapies, the bill aims to improve treatment outcomes, reduce dropout rates, and enhance overall well-being for veterans. The administrative burden on the VA is likely to be significant, as it requires the establishment and operation of a new task force, comprehensive evaluation of therapies, and potential expansion of services. While specific cost estimates are not provided, the implementation of new therapies and programs could result in increased short-term costs for the VA, potentially offset by improved long-term health outcomes for veterans. The bill does not include explicit sunset provisions, suggesting an ongoing commitment to integrating these approaches into VA care.

The bill operates within the existing statutory authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide healthcare services to veterans. It does not appear to preempt state or local laws, as it focuses on federal VA facilities and programs. The bill does not explicitly address judicial review provisions or create new regulatory frameworks. Instead, it relies on the VA's existing administrative structure to implement the task force's recommendations. The constitutional basis for this legislation likely stems from Congress's power to provide for the general welfare and to make rules for the government, particularly in matters relating to veterans' benefits and healthcare.

Several critical issues may arise in the implementation of this bill. First, there may be resistance from traditional medical practitioners within the VA system to incorporating complementary and integrative health therapies, potentially leading to implementation challenges. Second, the lack of specified funding mechanisms could hinder the effective execution of the task force's recommendations. Third, the evaluation of complementary therapies' effectiveness may be complicated by varying scientific standards and methodologies, potentially leading to disputes over which therapies should be integrated into VA care. Fourth, the expansion of services could strain VA resources and personnel, particularly if not accompanied by additional funding. Finally, there may be concerns about the standardization and regulation of complementary therapies, especially peer-led models, to ensure consistent quality of care across VA facilities.