This bill would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to run a pilot program to provide hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to veterans who have a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The pilot would operate in three Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) and would end five years after the date of enactment. HBOT is defined in the bill as therapy using a medical device that is either approved by the Food and Drug Administration or has an FDA investigational device exemption. The program would be provided through health care providers the VA is authorized to use under 38 U.S.C. 1703(c)(5).
If you are a veteran diagnosed with TBI or PTSD, this bill would make you eligible to receive HBOT through the pilot at participating VISNs, where available. The pilot would be limited to three VISNs and last five years. The treatment must use devices approved by the FDA or covered by an FDA investigational device exemption. The services would be provided by VA-authorized non-VA health care providers described in 38 U.S.C. 1703(c)(5).
The bill creates a "VA HBOT Fund" in the general fund of the Treasury. The sole source of money for the Fund is donations received by the Secretary that are given for the Fund's express purposes. Amounts in the Fund would be available to the Secretary without fiscal year limitation to pay for HBOT under the pilot. The Fund and the pilot end five years after enactment. No publicly available information about projected costs or expected donation amounts.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.