Napa Valley Register – Federal bill may aid soldiers at the Pathway Home

Rep. Mike Thompson announced Friday that his bipartisan legislation to improve treatment options for active duty soldiers with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and post-traumatic stress (PTS) has passed in both the Senate and House and is expected to be signed into law by the president.

The legislation, which passed as a part of H.R. 3304, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2014, allows service members to access innovative treatments offered outside military medical facilities, including potentially the Pathway Home program in Yountville.

"The fact that this legislation is finally being signed into law is great news for our nation's brave servicemembers," said Thompson. "With so many of our troops returning from overseas with brain injuries, we need to make sure they have access to the very best care our country has to offer, no matter where it is provided. Because of this law, our heroes will be able to access cutting-edge care, even if it's offered outside of our military medical facilities."

The bill, co-authored in the House by Rep. Pete Sessions, a Republican from Texas, creates a pilot program that allows military patients to receive treatment from health care facilities outside of the Department of Defense that are utilizing an array of leading-edge, successful therapies to treat TBI and PTS.

Residential treatment centers like the Pathway Home in Yountville may qualify for payment from the Department of Defense by participating in this pilot program.