TREAT PTSD Act

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 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 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 section 1720J 1720K. Provision of stellate ganglion block for certain veterans. . (b) Provision to members of the Armed Forces (1) In general Chapter 55 section 1074o 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 section 1074o 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 (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 (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.

Summary: Treatment and Relief through Emerging and Accessible Therapy for PTSD Act or the TREAT PTSD Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DOD) to furnish stellate ganglion block to certain veterans or members of the Armed Forces (including reserve components) diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Blocking the stellate ganglion (a group of nerves at the base of the neck) by injecting a local anesthetic is a treatment that may alleviate PTSD symptoms. The bill authorizes this treatment for any veteran or member of the Armed Forces who (1) is enrolled in the VA health care system or TRICARE program, (2) has been diagnosed with PTSD, and (3) has elected to receive stellate ganglion block after being informed by a physician of the risks and benefits. Such treatment may be furnished at a VA medical center, DOD medical facility, or through health care provider under the Veterans Community Care Program or TRICARE health insurance program. The bill also requires the VA and DOD to update the VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for the Management of PTSD to ensure that information about stellate ganglion block is included.