SPONSOR: Brown (16)
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Veterans and Armed Forces by a vote of 17 to 0.
This bill establishes the "Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment and Recovery Act".
The bill creates the "Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment and Recovery Fund", which will reimburse facilities that provide hyperbaric oxygen therapy to veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury, and be used to conduct studies on the use of alternative therapies for such conditions.
The bill specifies the eligibility criteria and requirements for veterans, facilities, and health care practitioners for reimbursement.
The Missouri Veterans Commission must compile an annual report with data about the treatment of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and its effectiveness. The information collected for the report is specified in the bill.
The bill grants the Missouri Veterans Commission and the Department of Health and Senior Services the authority to promulgate rules and regulations for the administration of the Act.
This bill is similar to HB 2215 (2024).
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this type of treatment is not new or experimental. This is a safe way we can help heal veterans with post traumatic brain injury (PTSD) and traumatic brain injuries (TBI). The current methods being used for treating disabled veterans with PTSD and TBI are not working. This will be a better option for healing our disabled veterans.
Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Brown; Brooks Travis; Dale C Lutzen; William K. Warren III.
OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: