TREAT PTSD Act
Bill: H.R.1656 | Sponsor: Rep. Perry, Scott (R-PA)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

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.

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.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 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''.

SEC. 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:
``Sec. 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:
``Sec. 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.
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