WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) announced 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.

“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.”

Thompson’s legislation, co-authored in the House by Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX-32), 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.

Under Thompson’s and Sessions’ legislation, physicians and residential treatment centers like The Pathway Home in Yountville, may qualify for payment from the Department of Defense by participating in this investigational pilot program.

Treatment safeguards in the legislation ensure servicemembers will have access to innovative private treatments while protecting their health and privacy.

“The passage of HR 3304 is a welcome acknowledgment by Congress of the sacrifices made by our country's warriors by supporting opportunities for them to avail themselves to all realms of quality care that exists today,” said Fred Gusman, Executive Director of the Pathway Home in Yountville.

“Nonprofits like The Pathway Home Inc. – a Joint Commission accredited residential treatment center which has served for nearly six years as a viable referral resource for the VA system as well as military installations – might now possibly be reimbursed for the services it provides,” said Gusman. “Congressman Thompson and Rep. Session's leadership in introducing and championing this legislation will further the collaboration between all those entities that share in the singular share mission of caring for those who’ve given their all.”

To reach the long-term objective of incorporating leading-edge medical practices into military hospitals, Thompson’s and Sessions’ TBI treatment initiative requires an annual report to Congress on the results of the program, encouraging a constant flow of new and innovative treatments.

Congressman Mike Thompson represents California’s 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.