Bill targets traumatic brain injury treatments for veterans – Broad + Liberty

Report on Bipartisan Legislation for Veteran Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A bipartisan legislative initiative, the Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Adaptive Care Opportunities Nationwide Act, has been introduced to address a critical health crisis among U.S. veterans. The act aims to fund research into innovative treatments for Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), a condition linked to a suicide rate more than double that of the civilian population. This report analyzes the proposed legislation and its direct contributions to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Alignment with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The primary objective of the legislation is to improve health outcomes for veterans, directly supporting SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. The initiative specifically targets key aspects of SDG 3:

• Target 3.4: By focusing on neurorehabilitation and mental health, the bill seeks to reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases and promote mental health. The explicit goal of suicide prevention is a direct effort to lower the elevated mortality rate among veterans with TBI.
• Target 3.8: The legislation endeavors to expand access to quality, innovative healthcare services for a vulnerable population, reinforcing the principle of universal health coverage and ensuring that veterans can access effective treatments for service-related injuries.

Addressing SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

Veterans with disabilities, including TBI, represent a group susceptible to health and social inequalities. The proposed act contributes to SDG 10 by ensuring this demographic is not left behind.

• Target 10.2: By providing access to groundbreaking treatments, the bill promotes the social inclusion and well-being of veterans with disabilities, empowering them to achieve a higher quality of life.
• Target 10.3: The legislation is a proactive measure to reduce inequalities of outcome in healthcare, ensuring that veterans receive specialized care tailored to the unique “invisible wounds” of service.

Fostering SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The development and introduction of this bill exemplify the collaborative approach championed by SDG 17. The partnership is evident on multiple levels:

• Bipartisan Political Partnership: The bill is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), demonstrating a cross-party commitment to achieving a common public health objective.
• Public-Private Collaboration: The legislation would fund studies and potentially support programs like the one at Aurelius Brain Health and Human Performance at Harrisburg University, fostering a partnership between government, academia, and private health institutions to advance medical science and patient care.

Proposed Legislative Action and Innovative Treatment Models

The Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Adaptive Care Opportunities Nationwide Act

Introduced by Senators McCormick and Rosen, the act would authorize funding for studies exploring new TBI treatments. The focus is on holistic and adaptive care opportunities that go beyond conventional medication-based approaches. This initiative builds on previous legislative efforts, such as the VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project Act, to enhance mental health services for veterans.

Holistic Treatment Case Study: Aurelius Brain Health

The legislation is informed by pioneering programs like the one at Harrisburg University, which utilizes a multi-pronged, synergistic approach to promote lasting healing of the brain’s physical structure. This model has shown promise in improving cognitive performance and mental health with fewer side effects than traditional treatments. The core components include:

1. Exercise
2. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
3. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article’s primary focus is on the health of veterans, specifically addressing traumatic brain injuries (TBI), mental health outcomes, and the high suicide rate among this group. The proposed legislation aims to fund new treatments and improve access to mental health services, directly aligning with the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being.
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • The article highlights a significant health inequality: “Veterans diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries from repeated explosions complete suicide at more than twice the rate of civilians.” The legislation is a targeted action to address the specific needs of a vulnerable group (veterans with TBI) and reduce this disparity in health outcomes.
3. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article demonstrates a partnership for achieving these goals. The “Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Adaptive Care Opportunities Nationwide Act” is a bipartisan effort, introduced by senators from both the Republican and Democratic parties (Dave McCormick, R-Pa., and Jacky Rosen, D-Nev.). This cross-party collaboration exemplifies the partnerships needed to implement effective policies.

Identified SDG Targets

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
   • The article directly addresses this target by focusing on reducing the suicide rate among veterans, which is a form of premature mortality. The proposed bill aims to fund treatments for TBI to improve “mental health outcomes and suicide prevention,” which is central to promoting mental health and well-being.
2. Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services…
   • The legislation mentioned, particularly the “VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project Act of 2025,” aims to “cover mental health services for veterans living in rural communities.” This is a direct effort to expand access to quality, essential healthcare for a specific population that may face geographic barriers to care.
3. Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome… by promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard.
   • The introduction of the “Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Adaptive Care Opportunities Nationwide Act” is a legislative action designed to reduce the inequality of health outcomes (specifically, the higher suicide rate) faced by veterans with TBI compared to the general population.

Implied Indicators for Measurement

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Suicide rate among veterans with TBI: The article explicitly states that the suicide rate for veterans with TBI is “more than twice the rate of civilians.” A reduction in this specific mortality rate would be a primary indicator of progress toward Target 3.4.
• Access to mental health services in rural areas: The “VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project Act” creates a pilot program for five VA health clinics. An indicator would be the number of veterans in rural communities who receive mental health services through this program, measuring progress toward Target 3.8.
• Ratio of veteran suicide rate to civilian suicide rate: The article establishes a baseline inequality. An indicator for Target 10.3 would be the change in the ratio between the suicide rate of veterans with TBI and that of the civilian population. A decrease in this ratio would signify a reduction in this specific health inequality.
• Availability of innovative treatments: The article discusses new treatments like “hyperbaric oxygen therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation.” An indicator of success would be the number of veterans who gain access to and benefit from these innovative treatments funded by the new legislation.

Summary Table of Findings

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: broadandliberty.com