H.R. 2623 — Innovative Therapies Centers of Excellence Act of 2025

This section directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), upon recommendation of the Under Secretary for Health, to designate not less than five VA medical facilities as locations for innovative therapies centers of excellence—ensuring geographic distribution—and, subject to appropriations, to establish and operate such centers. Designation requires (1) peer review panel approval of the facility's proposal as among the highest in scientific and clinical merit and (2) determination that the facility has or can develop capabilities including affiliations with accredited medical, psychiatry, and social work schools for resident training; ability to attract innovative scientists; an advisory committee of veterans and experts; effective evaluation, national coordination of activities, provider consortium development, and a national data repository on innovative therapies for covered conditions (i.e., anxiety, bipolar disorder, chronic pain, depression, Parkinson’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorder, or others designated by the Under Secretary). The Under Secretary for Health must establish a peer review panel of innovative therapies experts (exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee Act, with staggered two- to three-year terms) and submit annual reports to the congressional Veterans’ Affairs Committees—starting two years after enactment—on center activities, key findings, delivery improvement recommendations, and other relevant matters. This section authorizes $30 million annually for the centers’ research and education activities and permits allocations from VA medical services and medical/prosthetics research accounts.