117 HR 1656 IH: Treatment and Relief through Emerging and Accessible Therapy for PTSD Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-03-08
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I
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1656
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 8, 2021
Mr. Perry (for himself, Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. Zeldin, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Bishop of North Carolina, and Mr. Murphy of North Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense to furnish stellate ganglion block to veterans and members of the Armed Forces with post-traumatic stress disorder, and for other purposes.
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:
“1720K.

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 1720J the following new item:
“1720K. Provision of stellate ganglion block for certain veterans.”.
(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:
“1074p. Provision of stellate ganglion block for certain members.”.
(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.