VA hints at retail telepharmacies for rural Alaskans

In a press release issued by the senior US Senator from Alaska, Lisa Murkowski, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric Shinseki, spoke at a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Veterans Affairs Subcommittee and responded to questions about the VA's future approach to delivering prescription health benefits to veterans in rural areas of the state:

Cross said the VA could help Alaska through “outreach clinics,” such as those slated for Juneau and Homer, and rural health initiatives, including telemedicine programs and prescription deliveries by mail so that veterans don’t have to visit a pharmacy.

“We have much to learn and much innovation to bring forward in regard to our veterans in Alaska and we look forward to working on that,” he said.

Considering that the VA has a good idea of what telepharmacy can offer, and the head of the VA is testifying that this is more or less what they have in mind to the Senators who are going to appropriate the money, it's a good bet it will happen.