U.S. House of Representatives Passes TBI Amendment

By Peter DePaolis
Attorney

There will be increased federal funding for research and treatment of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) thanks to a U.S. congressional representative from Texas. Earlier this month, Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX) secured the money as an amendment to the Department of Defense Appropriations Bill of 2012.

The amendment allows active duty and veteran TBI patients to receive cutting-edge therapies and treatments for TBI and PTSD. Under a five-year pilot program, military patients have access to treatments not currently available in military hospitals. Participating doctors can receive compensation through the Department of Defense (DOD) or Veterans Affairs (VA) if they can prove that their treatment resulted in demonstrable patient improvement.

The justification for the “pay-for-performance” compensation system is that it reserves payment for only the treatments that work. The amendment gives $10 million to the Defense Health Program to fund the “pay-for-performance” system.

According to the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, about 90 percent of TBI injuries are mild, and most servicemen and women can resume normal lives. However, moderate and severe cases of TBI can have life-long symptoms that make daily life difficult. The Center encourages veterans to seek rehabilitation from experienced TBI professionals and to involve their families in the rehabilitation process. To learn more, contact our team today.

Koonz, McKenney, Johnson & DePaolis L.L.P.

Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia Injury Attorneys

About the Author
Peter DePaolis joined the firm in 1980 and has since represented a large number of individuals involved in automobile collisions, truck accidents, bus crashes, defective products, and medical malpractice cases. A significant portion of Mr. DePaolis’ practice is devoted to working on behalf of people suffering from asbestosis, mesothelioma, and other asbestos-related cancers. He has led his firm’s fight against the asbestos industry and has recovered over $30 million in damages for asbestos victims and their families.