HB1313--ALTERNATIVETREATMENTOPTIONSFORVETERANS
SPONSOR: Sauls
Thisbillestablishesthe"VeteransTraumaticBrainInjury
TreatmentAct".ThisbillallowstheVeteransCommissionto
contractwithpublicorprivateinstitutionsofhighereducationin
thisstate,orpublicorprivateclinicsorhospitals,tofurnish
alternativetreatmentoptionsforveteranswhohavebeencertified
bytheUnitedStatesDepartmentofVeteransAffairs,anybranchof
theUnitedStatesArmedForces,oranystate-licensedphysicianas
havingatraumaticbraininjuryorposttraumaticstressdisorder.
Theinstitutionofhighereducationwillmanage,monitor,and
ensurethecomplianceofcontractedprovidersofanyofthe
followingalternativetreatmentoptions:
(1)Acceleratedresolutiontherapy;
(2)Equinetherapy;
(3)Hyperbaricoxygentherapy,whichwillbeprovidedata
registeredandlicensedhyperbaricoxygenfacility;
(4)Musictherapy;or
(5)Serviceanimaltrainingtherapy.
Aveteranqualifiestoreceivealternativetreatmentunderthis
billifheorshe:
(1)Hasbeendiagnosed,byahealthcarepractitioner,with
service-connectedposttraumaticstressdisorderoraservice-
connectedtraumaticbraininjury;and
(2)Voluntarilyagreestosuchalternativetreatment.
Theprovisionofalternativetreatmentwillbeunderthedirection
andsupervisionofanindividuallicensedunderthisstateto
performsuchalternativetreatment.
Thesupervisinglicensedprovidermustagreetocooperatewiththe
VeteransCommissiontoprovidedatasufficienttoassessthe
efficacyofalternativetreatmentmodalities. Acceptabledatamay
include,butwillnotbelimitedto,institutionalreviewboard
clinicaltrialdata,pretreatmentandposttreatmentMRIbrain
scans,cognitivetestingsuchastheRightEyetestingapprovedby
theUnitedStatesFoodandDrugAdministration, Automated
Neuropsychological AssessmentMetrics(ANAM)approvedbytheUnited
StatesDepartmentofDefense,andCNSVitalSigns(CNSVS)metrics. Thisbillspecifiesthatahealthcareproviderorhealthcare
facilityshallmakehyperbaricoxygentherapyavailabletoa
militaryveteranwhomeetstherequirementsofthisbillandwho
hasrequestedsuchtherapy.Suchhealthcareproviderorhealth
carefacilitymayprovidethehyperbaricoxygentherapywithout
receivingcompensation;requireamilitaryveterantopayforthe
costofthehyperbaricoxygentherapyandanyassociatedcosts,at
aratethatwillnotexceedthemaximumrateallowedbyMedicare;
orallowamilitaryveterantoutilizealternativesourcesof
fundingtocoverthecostofthehyperbaricoxygentherapyandany
associatedcosts,asprovidedinthebill.
Thisbillspecifiesthatamilitaryveteranwillbeentitledto
receivehyperbaricoxygentherapyifthemilitaryveteran:
(1)HasreceivedadiagnosisofPTSDorTBI;
(2)Hasreceivedanofficialrecommendation forhyperbaricoxygen
therapyfromthehealthcareproviderthattreatstheeligible
patient;and
(3) Residesinthisstate.
Alicensingboardwillnotrevoke,suspend,orfailtorenewthe
licenseofahealthcareproviderortakeanyotherpunitiveaction
againstahealthcareprovider,basedonarecommendation or
counselingbythehealthcareproviderrelatingtoaccesstoor
treatmentwithahyperbaricoxygenchamberforamilitaryveteran.
Nopersonactingonbehalfofthisstatewillblockorattemptto
blockamilitaryveteranfromreceivingaccesstohyperbaricoxygen
treatment.
ThisbillissimilartoHB24722022andHB1213(2021).