HB2883--VETERANS
SPONSOR: Sauls
Thisbillestablishesthe"VeteransTraumaticBrainInjury
TreatmentAct".
ThebillallowstheVeteransCommissiontocontractwithpublicor
privateinstitutionsofhighereducationinthisstate,orpublic
orprivateclinicsorhospitals,tofurnishalternativetreatment
optionsforveteranswhohavebeencertifiedbytheUnitedStates
DepartmentofVeteransAffairs,anybranchoftheUnitedStates
ArmedForces,oranystate-licensedphysicianashavingatraumatic
braininjury(TBI)orposttraumaticstressdisorder(PTSD).The
institutionofhighereducationwillmanage,monitor,andensure
thecomplianceofcontractedprovidersofanyofthefollowing
alternativetreatmentoptions:
(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 AssessmentMetricsapprovedbytheUnitedStates
DepartmentofDefense,andCNSVitalSignsmetrics.
Thisbillspecifiesthatahealthcareproviderorhealthcare
facilityshallmakehyperbaricoxygentherapyavailabletoa
militaryveteranwhomeetstherequirementsofthisbillandwho
hasrequestedthetherapy. Thehealthcareproviderorhealthcare
facilitymayprovidethehyperbaricoxygentherapywithout
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.
ThisbillissimilartoHB1313(2023)andHB2472(2022).