HR1336-119

What This Bill Does

The Veterans National Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Act creates a VA pilot program for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or HBOT, for veterans with traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder. The VA Secretary must furnish HBOT through eligible community care providers under title 38. Earlier text selects three Veterans Integrated Service Networks for the pilot; later text selects two VISNs and requires any facility providing HBOT under the pilot to be accredited by the Joint Commission, the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, or another comparable expert organization. The bill creates a VA HBOT Fund in the Treasury whose sole source is donations received by the Secretary expressly for the Fund. Amounts remain available without fiscal year limitation to pay for HBOT until the Fund terminates. The pilot terminates after 5 years in earlier text and after 3 years in later text. HBOT must use a medical device approved by FDA or issued an FDA investigational device exemption. Later text also directs GAO, within 1 year, to update its 2016 report on HBOT for traumatic brain injury and PTSD, assessing clinical trials conducted by VA, Defense, and private entities, and extends certain VA pension-payment limits to October 30, 2034.

Who Benefits and How

Veterans with traumatic brain injury benefit from access to HBOT through a VA pilot program. Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder benefit from the same pilot eligibility. Accredited HBOT providers benefit from potential VA-funded treatment referrals through community care. Donors interested in HBOT access benefit from a dedicated VA HBOT Fund for express donations. VA policymakers benefit from pilot evidence and a GAO update on clinical trials. Congress benefits from the GAO report assessing VA, Defense, and private HBOT research after GAO-16-154.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The VA Secretary must select VISNs, administer the pilot, manage the VA HBOT Fund, ensure treatment through eligible providers, and apply FDA-device and accreditation requirements. VA community care administrators must coordinate referrals and payments. GAO must update its HBOT report within 1 year and assess clinical trials by VA, Defense, and private entities. HBOT facilities must meet accreditation requirements in later text. VA pension recipients subject to section 5503 limits may be affected by the extension of certain payment limits. The pilot depends on donations, so VA cannot rely on general appropriations for the HBOT Fund unless another law changes the funding source.

Key Provisions

• Requires a VA pilot program furnishing HBOT to veterans with traumatic brain injury or PTSD.
• Uses eligible community care providers under title 38.
• Selects two or three Veterans Integrated Service Networks depending on bill version.
• Creates a donation-only VA HBOT Fund available without fiscal year limitation.
• Requires FDA-approved or investigational-device-exemption HBOT medical devices.
• Requires accredited HBOT facilities in later text.
• Directs GAO to update its HBOT research report within 1 year.
• Extends certain VA pension-payment limits.