Rep. Ruben Gallego Introduces “Help Treat PTSD Among Service Members” Amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act
Washington, DC – Rep. Ruben Gallego introduced an amendment to the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would require each branch of the armed forces to monitor the prescribing practices of medications to treat symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among service members.
An estimated one in five veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan are diagnosed with PTSD.
The Department of Defense (DOD) and the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) have collaborated to develop clinical practice guidelines for PTSD, which include recommendations for the treatment of symptoms among service members and veterans with these conditions. Currently, the VHA monitors the prescribing of medications that are included in these guidelines, but the DOD and the Army do not. A GAO report released earlier this year asserts that without such monitoring, the Army “may be unable to identify and address practices that are inconsistent with the [PTSD] guideline.”
Rep. Ruben Gallego released the following statement:
“As a veteran, I know how critical it is to support efforts to both de-stigmatize and reduce barriers to mental health care for service members and veterans, including addressing PTSD.
“By consistently monitoring the prescribing practices of medications to treat symptoms of PTSD among service members, we can make sure our men and women in uniform receive the proper treatment they need and deserve.”
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