119-HR1947

Bill is currently in: House
Path to Law
House Senate President

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1947

1. Short title
2. Provision of stellate ganglion block to veterans and members of the Armed Forces with post-traumatic stress disorder

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the "Treatment and Relief through Emerging and Accessible Therapy for PTSD Act" or the "TREAT PTSD Act".

2. Provision of stellate ganglion block to veterans and members of the Armed Forces with post-traumatic stress disorder

(a) Provision to veterans -

(1) In general - Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

1720M. Provision of stellate ganglion block for certain veterans

(a) In general - The Secretary shall furnish stellate ganglion block to any veteran who—

(1) - is enrolled in the patient enrollment system under section 1705 of this title;

(2) - has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder; and

(3) - has elected to receive stellate ganglion block after being informed by a qualified health care provider of the risks and benefits of stellate ganglion block.

(b) Provision of care - The Secretary may furnish stellate ganglion block under subsection (a) through a medical facility of the Department or through a health care provider specified in section 1703(c) of this title.

(2) Clerical amendment - The table of contents at the beginning of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1720L the following new item:

(b) Provision to members of the Armed Forces -

(1) In general - Chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1074o the following new section:

1074p. Provision of stellate ganglion block for certain members

(a) In general - The Secretary shall furnish stellate ganglion block to any member of the Armed Forces (including the reserve components) who is performing or has performed active service and who—

(1) - is enrolled in the TRICARE program under chapter 55 of this title;

(2) - has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder; and

(3) - has elected to receive stellate ganglion block after being informed by a qualified health care provider of the risks and benefits of stellate ganglion block.

(b) Provision of care - The Secretary may furnish stellate ganglion block under subsection (a) through a medical facility of the Department or through a qualified health care provider participating in a Department administered TRICARE health insurance program.

(2) Clerical amendment - The table of contents at the beginning of chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1074o the following new item:

(c) Update of joint clinical practice guideline -

(1) Update of guideline - Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense shall update the guideline published jointly by the Secretaries and titled the "VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for the Management of PTSD" (or such successor guideline) to ensure the guideline—

(A) - reflects the availability of stellate ganglion block as a therapy option; and

(B) - includes information on the clinical indicators and contraindicators for such therapy option.

(2) Notification - Upon updating the guideline under paragraph (1), the Secretaries shall notify the appropriate congressional committees of such update.

(3) Appropriate congressional committees defined - In this subsection, the term appropriate congressional committees means—

(A) - the congressional defense committees (as such term is defined in section 101 of title 10, United States Code); and

(B) - the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

(d) Effective date - The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.