Governor Signs law - Oklahoma Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment and Recovery Plan Act of 2014

Governor Signs into law the Oklahoma Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment and Recovery Act of 2014. Unanimous Passing of Oklahoma Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment and Recovery Plan Act of 2014

Yesterday was an historic day in Oklahoma as Governor Mary Fallin signed into law the Oklahoma Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment and Recovery Act of 2014.  The legislation will mean that free hyperbaric oxygen therapy(HBOT) will be provided to vets statewide with traumatic brain injury(TBI). That could signal help for some 40,000 afflicted veterans. A similar bill is in the works in Indiana and there are grassroots movements in Texas, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Iowa to follow Oklahoma's lead. Since the bill became law some $3 million have been pledged to provide the hyperbaric treatments and calls have been coming in from legislators around the country interested in developing similar legislation.

"The states have finally stepped in to get veterans effective treatment for their injuries," said William Duncan, Ph.D, Vice President for Development of the International Hyperbaric Medical Foundation and a driving force behind the legislation.

A growing number of vets nationwide have turned to hyperbaric oxygen therapy when the standard psychiatric medications typically given to them fail to heal their brain injury and often have terrible side effects. HBOT is a centuries-old treatment which simply involves a patient breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber.  The reason for the treatment's efficacy is not complicated: the normal brain at a steady state uses 100% of the oxygen the body provides it. When there is any trauma to the brain, extra oxygen is essential for the brain to heal, grow new blood vessels, and for dormant neurons to reactivate. HBOT provides that requisite extra oxygen.

Representative John Bennett (R-Sallisaw), the House bill sponsor, is himself a veteran of the war in Afghanistan who recovered from traumatic brain injury through the use of HBOT.  "Traumatic brain injuries can leave a terrible scar on an individual and shatter families," says Bennett.  "This legislation is about providing Oklahoma veterans with TBI relief, enabling them to lead a better life."

Bennett adds, "As evidenced by  the 25 suicides per day in this population, the Federal government has failed in its responsibility to fix our brain-injured veterans, despite the fact that they were broken in service to their country."

He thinks Oklahoma is taking historic measures with the new legislation. "Oklahoma is exercising our authority over health, welfare and morals, the police powers, under the U.S. Constitution, and the Governor is exercising her authority as the Commander in Chief over the National Guard," says Bennett.  "Through the mechanism set up in this legislation, and in the Veterans' Bureau Act of 1921, we will finally be able to get our veterans effective medical treatment for their traumatic brain injuries."