house Bill H.R. 1162
No Hero Left Untreated Act
This is a pilot program similar to the one my got. He received a card that let him go to any facility for treatment. If this pilot program works then maybe distribute it to all facilities.
Only 2 facilities and 50 veterans?! Take this garbage back to the drawing board and produce something that will actually make a difference.
Being a Vet myself, I know the problems in getting certain treatments for different things. Allowing our Vets treatments that are still being re-searched, can tend to make their lives better. This kind of bill opens the way for our Vets to get the care they need.
While this sounds like a great idea, such treatments are still undergoing clinical studies. (See https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02824445 for more information.) Why push for a pilot program for treatments still in development?
This will literally leave countless numbers of heroes untreated, or unable to access a treatment that is still in the fledgling stages of clinical trials. Put this money somewhere where it will work for more than just 50 veterans.
Once a treatment is proven effective, Veterans should have access to that treatment. Please vote yes.
This bill does not provide enough support for Veterans. Steve Knight is up for reelection in 2018 and bills that support Veterans garner A LOT of favor with the electorate. Two of his top campaign donors are Insurance and Defense which stand to benefit financially from a mandatory pilot program like this. NAY.
Any treatment that shows promise should be used. I have seen the VAMC refuse to allow treatment that was effective but not provided in house simply because it wasn't provided in house not because the treatment was ineffective. This needs to stop. These people were hurt for us the least we can do is help them get the treatment they need. Many will never be free from pain but this might help.
If I am reading this right it is basically EMDR which it is a proven method that works for PTSD. The pilot program needs to move forward so it can be implemented throughout the VA
There does not appear to be any evidence that this treatment works. Encourage research funding, sure, but no "official" programs until there is a shred of scientific evidence to justify them.
This is still an experimental treatment, and the research abstract I read showed only modest improvements, with a patient pool of only 16. This is too small a population to show true, statistically significant benefit. As a veteran and a trauma therapist, I would vote no, and urge funds to be instead directed towards proven, effective therapies. There are not enough counselors in the VA and active duty military treatment centers to meet the needs of our service members and veterans.