Sen. Tom Wright’s, R-New Smyrna Beach, “Alternative Treatment Options for Veterans” bill continues to build steam in Tallahassee as the Senate Appropriations Committee passed it this week without opposition.
SB 1518 will allow for a study to review alternative avenues for veterans who currently suffer from service connected injuries that have resulted in diagnoses of post traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury. Senator Wright brings his own experiences to the table, having personally sponsored eight veterans to receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy; one of the five listed treatments in the bill. Of those veterans, all eight healed with resounding success. Other treatments included in the bill are accelerated resolution therapy, music therapy, equine therapy and service animal training therapy,” the senator’s office noted.
“Our state’s veterans are of upmost importance to me. We must find what treatments can best help our veterans with success and pursue those routes to the best of our ability,” said Wright. “Veterans of this state give everything to protect this nation and deserve all of our support.”
“The bill directs the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs to contract with one Florida College System or University to study the effectiveness of the five treatment options listed above. This study will prove to Florida’s veterans that alternatives do exist, and can have healing effects on their injuries from serving the country,” Wright’s office noted.
“I am thankful for the support from my fellow colleagues on this bill,” Wright said after the bill sailed through its third committee and now heard to the Senate floor.
Over in the House, state Rep. Mel Ponder, R-Destin, has brought the companion bill in for a landing as it passed 114-0 earlier this week.
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