HR 1336119th CongressIntroduced

Veterans National Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Act

Introduced: Feb 13, 2025

Sponsor: Rep. Murphy, Gregory F. [R-NC-3] (R-North Carolina)

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Veterans National Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Act would create a three-year pilot program within the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to veterans who have a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The VA would run the pilot through two Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) and require treatment facilities to be accredited by recognized bodies. Funding for the HBOT program would come from a new VA HBOT Fund, funded solely by donations, with no annual federal appropriation, and the fund would be available without fiscal year limits. The act also requires a GAO audit update within one year on the state of research and trials related to HBOT for TBI/PTSD. In addition, the bill extends a pension-related payment deadline (revising a 2031 date to 2034). HBOT under the bill means therapy administered with an FDA-approved device or an FDA-approved investigational device exemption. In short, it creates a time-limited, donation-funded VA pilot to offer HBOT to veterans with TBI or PTSD at two VA networks, with accreditation standards, and with oversight by a GAO review on the therapy’s clinical trial landscape.

Key Points

1Establishes a VA pilot program to furnish hyperbaric oxygen therapy to veterans with TBI or PTSD through a VA health care provider.
2Locations: the pilot would operate in two Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs).
3Accreditation: treatment facilities must be accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, or an equivalent organization with comparable expertise and objectivity.
4Funding structure: creates the VA HBOT Fund funded only by donor contributions; funds are available without fiscal year limitations to pay for HBOT; the pilot ends after three years from enactment.
5HBOT definition: therapy using an FDA-approved hyperbaric oxygen device or one that has an FDA-issued investigational device exemption (IDE).
6Oversight and evaluation: requires a GAO report/update within one year of enactment assessing the use and trials of HBOT for TBI/PTSD, including activities by the VA, the Department of Defense, and private entities.
7Pension-related payments: extends certain limits on VA pension payments by altering the date from November 30, 2031 to October 30, 2034.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Veterans with traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder who would be eligible for HBOT under the VA pilot.- VA health care system and the two VISNs selected to operate the pilot, including participating hospitals and clinicians.Secondary group/area affected- Accredited medical facilities and the accrediting bodies (Joint Commission, Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, or equivalent).- HBOT suppliers/devices and medical staff administering HBOT under the pilot.Additional impacts- Donor community and private funders who would provide contributions to the new VA HBOT Fund.- Government accountability and oversight bodies through the GAO’s required report, which will review the clinical trial landscape and cross-agency activities.- Potential influence on the evidence base for HBOT in TBI/PTSD, given the pilot’s limited scope and duration and its role in generating data for future policy decisions.- Pension program administration, due to the concurrent amendment extending a pension payment deadline, which could affect veterans’ benefit timing and budgeting.

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