Bill > A01869

This bill establishes a five-year pilot program in New York State to provide hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries (TBI) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a medical treatment where patients breathe pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, which is approved by the FDA as a potential therapeutic approach. The program requires providers to submit annual reports analyzing the cost and effectiveness of the treatment, and the state's health commissioner must submit a comprehensive report by December 31, 2031, detailing the program's outcomes and the number of veterans treated. Any authorized medical professional (such as physicians, physician's assistants, or nurse practitioners) may prescribe HBOT to eligible New York State veterans diagnosed with TBI or PTSD, provided they follow accepted medical care standards. The bill defines key terms like "veteran" (using the existing state veterans' services law definition), "PTSD" (based on the American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic manual), and establishes clear guidelines for implementing and evaluating the experimental treatment program. The commissioner of health is tasked with creating necessary regulations, and the act will take effect immediately upon passage.