Osteopathic Pain Management for Veterans Advances in Senate

On July 17, 2025, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill by a bipartisan vote of 26–3. The bill authorizes $153.5 billion in discretionary funding—$19.8 billion for defense funding and $133.6 billion for non-defense programs. Notably, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) would receive $133.3 billion, with $113.8 billion designated for VA medical care programs including mental health, telehealth services, medical and prosthetic research, women’s health and rural initiatives.

Included in the bill’s report (page 40) is continued support for osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) and other non-pharmacologic therapies for veterans experiencing chronic pain. This language reinforces the AACOM-requested report language from the FY23 Joint Explanatory Statement and directs the Department to report on utilization of alternative pain management treatments within 180 days. The continued inclusion of this language demonstrates the commitment to OMT and other non-opioid pain management options.