Jones, Sessions, and Buck Make Innovative Treatment a Reality for Veterans | Eastern North Carolina Now

News Release:

    WASHINGTON, DC     Congressmen Walter B. Jones (R-NC), Pete Sessions (R-TX), and Ken Buck (R-CO) are applauding the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) following last month's announcement that two of its facilities will partner with local providers to offer Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) as a treatment option for veterans with persistent post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injury (TBI) symptoms resistant to standard options. Jones, Sessions, and Buck have diligently worked with the VA for years urging them to offer HBOT as a treatment option for our nation's heroes. In addition, the VA and the Department of Defense (DoD) are planning a multisite research study to examine more fully the use of HBOT for patients diagnosed with PTSD or TBI.

    "America's courageous veterans deserve our complete help and support when healing from PTSD or a TBI. That is why for years, my colleagues and I have worked with the VA and DoD to find further treatments to help those men and women on the road to recovery," said Congressman Jones. "It gives me great joy to announce that two VA facilities will now offer HBOT treatment to our heroes suffering from those invisible injuries. I want to thank Secretary David Shulkin for his leadership on this pilot program and my colleagues for their persistent support of HBOT research and treatment."

    "Thousands of brave men and women in uniform are returning from duty with severe physical and mental injuries causing many to be unable to find a job and in many cases resulting in suicide," said Congressman Sessions. "Our nation's veterans deserve our unwavering support and that is why I have been working with my colleagues for more than a decade to research, study, and better understand how hyperbaric oxygen therapy could help treat injuries. I am delighted with the VA's decision to offer this life saving treatment to our nation's heroes and I look forward to continuing to work with them on this important issue."

    "I'm pleased to see the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offering hyperbaric oxygen therapy as another option in treating the physical and mental injuries that so many veterans acquire while defending our freedom," said Congressman Buck. "After talking to veterans and providers, I'm convinced that America's heroes deserve HBOT therapy as an option in treating their injuries. I look forward to continuing our work with the VA and Congress to ensure that this important therapy is utilized to its full capacity."

    For additional information, please contact Allison Tucker in Congressman Jones' office at (202) 225-3415 or allison.tucker@mail.house.gov.