Cassidy Announces Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Pilot Program Extension
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Bill Cassidy (R-LA) announced that the current pilot program designed for veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI) is expected to be extended for three more years. It is included in the House and Senate Veterans Affairs reform bill. Dr. Cassidy introduced the Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Care Improvement Act of 2014 to extend and enhance treatment services available for veterans suffering from TBI. Majority Leader-elect Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is an original co-sponsor of the bill.
Dr. Cassidy released the following statement:
"Veterans who are receiving treatment for traumatic brain injury can have a greater peace of mind knowing that the TBI pilot program will be re-authorized and extended for an additional 3 years. Ensuring our veterans have the power to choose their rehabilitation services is a priority. I introduced legislation to extend this successful program because as a doctor, I believe veterans should have flexibility and choice when making their healthcare decisions.”
Dr. Cassidy has been pushing for patient-centered reforms in the VA. He is an original co-sponsor or the Veteran Access to Care Act of 2014, which will allow veterans who receive inadequate wait-times, are not be able to obtain a needed appointment at a VA facility within a designated timeframe, or who live more than 40 miles from a VA medical facility to seek care through a private sector provider.
He also joined Rep. John Barrow (D-GA) to introduce a bipartisan resolution in the House of Representatives calling on the Department of Justice to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate misconduct at the VA.
In addition, he sent a letter to Acting VA Secretary Sloan Gibson in support of the Louisiana House Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs’ request to subpoena federal VA officials to attend a future committee hearing to hear Louisiana veterans’ concerns.
Last week, Dr. Cassidy hosted a veterans’ roundtable with representatives of service organizations and other veterans throughout the Sixth District of Louisiana.