H.R. 1947 — TREAT PTSD Act

This section requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary to furnish stellate ganglion block—a sympathetic nerve block procedure—to enrolled veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who elect it after being informed of risks and benefits by a qualified health care provider, through VA medical facilities or community care providers (38 U.S.C. §1703(c)). It similarly requires the Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary to furnish the procedure to TRICARE-enrolled members of the Armed Forces (including reserves) who have performed active service, are diagnosed with PTSD, and elect it after such notification, through military medical facilities or TRICARE providers. The section further directs the VA and DoD Secretaries, not later than 180 days after enactment, to update their joint VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for PTSD to include stellate ganglion block as a therapy option with clinical indicators and contraindications and to notify the congressional defense committees and House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees of the update. The new statutory provisions take effect 180 days after enactment.