Missouri Senate Bill SB664

Missouri 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/3/25
• Refer: 3/24/25

Caption

Establishes the "Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment and Recovery Act"

Summary

SB 664 establishes the “Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment and Recovery Act,” creating a state framework to support hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an alternative treatment for veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injury (TBI). The bill defines key terms, sets eligibility standards for veterans and facilities, and requires that treatment be prescribed by a licensed health care practitioner and delivered in approved hyperbaric chambers or devices. It also requires that veterans first have sought services through the Veterans Health Administration or private insurance, where available, before reimbursement is available through the state program. The bill creates the Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment and Recovery Fund in the state treasury and directs the Missouri veterans’ commission to reimburse approved facilities for therapy costs, while ensuring veterans are not billed or held liable for those expenses. It also authorizes funding for studies on alternative therapies for veterans with PTSD and TBI, requires annual reporting on treatment outcomes and fund usage, and directs the commission and the Department of Health and Senior Services to promulgate rules for implementation. The act further limits state action against practitioners who recommend hyperbaric oxygen therapy and bars interference with eligible veterans’ access to the therapy.

Impact

SB 664 would add seven new sections to chapter 191, RSMo, creating a new state reimbursement and oversight program for hyperbaric oxygen therapy for veterans with PTSD or TBI. It would establish a dedicated fund, impose facility, documentation, and reporting requirements, and authorize the Missouri veterans’ commission and the Department of Health and Senior Services to administer the program and issue rules. The bill would also affect health care practitioners and licensing boards by protecting practitioners from discipline or certification action based solely on recommendations for this therapy, and it would require state reporting on treatment outcomes, expenditures, and recommendations for future policy changes.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes in the provided materials, the overall sentiment appears supportive of expanding treatment options for veterans, with a strong emphasis on access, reimbursement, and research. The bill is framed as a veterans’ health and recovery measure and includes safeguards intended to prevent veterans from being billed directly. Because no committee discussion or vote history is provided, there is no documented opposition or support to characterize beyond the bill’s pro-veteran orientation.

Contention

The main points of potential contention are the use of state funds for a therapy that is described as an alternative rather than standard treatment, and the requirement that reimbursement be tied to evidence from clinical trials, cognitive testing, and other assessments. Questions may also arise about the strength of the scientific evidence for hyperbaric oxygen therapy in treating PTSD and TBI, the administrative burden on facilities and the commission, and whether the bill could indirectly affect medical licensing or federal program relationships. The bill attempts to address some of these concerns by requiring advance approval, treatment protocols, reporting, and efforts to seek reimbursement from federal or third-party payers.