Neurofeedback, used in the treatment of traumatic brain injury, is an evidence-based practice used to map and assess brain activity against normal patterns. (Photo: Gino Mattorano)
Members of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health are reviewing bipartisan legislation that would expand treatment options for Veterans with traumatic brain injuries and reduce reliance on opioid-based pain care within the VA. The measures were discussed during a recent hearing focused on persistent gaps in Veterans’ health services, including brain injury treatment, suicide prevention, and access to non-opioid therapies.
The Veterans TBI Breakthrough Exploration of Adaptive Care Opportunities Nationwide Act, introduced by Sen. David McCormick (R-Pa.), and also known as the BEACON Act, is one of the policies being examined. The bill proposes a $30 million pilot program to increase rehabilitation choices for Veterans with mild to moderate traumatic brain injuries. VA figures show that nearly 20 percent of those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan sustained at least one traumatic brain injury, and more than 400,000 Veterans have received a TBI diagnosis since 2000.
The bill would give the VA two grant programs. Clinical research, clinician education, Veteran and family participation, and cooperation between the VA, community providers, and academic institutions are all supported by one program. A second program, modeled after the VA’s National Center for PTSD, would provide funding for independent study and the introduction of alternative therapies that have proven successful. Individual awards could reach $5 million, with funding directed toward rehabilitation methods that do not depend on prescription medications.
The Blast Overpressure Research and Mitigation Task Force Act, introduced by Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX), would establish a special VA task force to investigate the long-term effects of blast exposure on military members and Veterans, was also evaluated by lawmakers. Through 2029, the task force would determine therapeutic priorities, coordinate VA and Department of Defense research, and report findings to Congress.
Other bills previewed during the hearing addressed opioid dependence, suicide prevention, post-traumatic stress disorder, and shortages of medical providers in rural communities.
Representatives from Veteran organizations including The American Legion spoke before the subcommittee, warning that traumatic brain injuries are often tied to lasting mental health challenges and an elevated risk of suicide, especially when diagnosis or treatment is delayed. Expanding access to care and treatment options earlier in the process, according to proponents of the measures, could improve outcomes for Veterans and their families.
“Since the year 2000, hundreds of thousands of Veterans have suffered traumatic brain injuries, many from blasts they never saw coming that changed their lives in an instant,” said Cole Lyle, director of Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation at The American Legion.
“These wounds don’t always show on the outside,” Lyle said, “but they show up around kitchen tables, in broken sleep, in strained marriages, and in moments when a Veteran wonders if anyone truly understands what they’re carrying.”
Current therapy strategies, according to Lyle, have depended too much on medication.
“Too often, we have asked them to navigate a system that treats symptoms instead of people,” he said, adding that Veterans need care that reflects the complexity of brain injuries and related conditions.
He stated that further research, creativity, and cooperation outside of conventional VA settings are necessary for advancement.
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted family connection to the military, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.
