House Panel OKs Bill to Improve Treatment of Veterans with Brain Injuries
The House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee approved a bill May 10th aimed at improving the treatment of veterans with traumatic brain injuries, putting the measure on track for House passage by the end of the month. The bill (HR 2199) would authorize new traumatic brain-injury research centers and mandate a comprehensive program for treating traumatic brain injuries at health centers operated by the Veterans Affairs Department. A committee aide said he expects the full Veterans’ Affairs Committee to mark up the bill next week, with a House floor vote to follow before the Memorial Day recess. The bill, sponsored by Health Subcommittee Chairman Michael H. Michaud, D-Maine, would require the department to establish a comprehensive long-term care program for traumatic brain injury, to be carried out at four special polytrauma care centers, which focus on treatment of veterans with multiple injuries. It also would mandate screening of veterans for traumatic brain injury.
