Tuberville reintroduces legislation to give veterans the option of hyperbaric oxygen therapy

March 5, 2025 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) joined U.S. Senators John Hoeven (R-North Dakota) and Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota) in reintroducing the HBOT Access Act. The bill would allow veterans to receive Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) for veterans suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The HBOT Access Act would require the VA to provide HBOT as a treatment option to any veteran suffering from TBI or PTSD. The veteran also would have to have tried no fewer than two evidence-based treatment options.

This legislation builds upon the Right to Try Act signed into law by President Trump. Currently, HBOT is an FDA-approved treatment option for 14 different illnesses; but is not approved for use by the VA for traumatic brain injuries, even though there is evidence of beneficial HBOT treatment is documented within the veterans' community.

Veterans suffering from PTSD would have exhausted other evidence-based treatment options. Senator Tuberville previously introduced this legislation in the 117th Congress.

Senator Tuberville spoke about the need to expand HBOT for veterans on Tuesday in a U.S. Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee (SVAC) hearing and received thunderous applause from veterans in the room.

"Our veterans face many battles from their time in war-including those that we can't see," said Senator Tuberville. "We must do more to support them as they face these silent struggles, especially when it comes to mental health. For veterans that have exhausted other options, access to HBOT treatment could make all the difference in them living to see another day. We have nothing to lose, but we do have lives to save. I appreciate Senators Hoeven and Cramer joining me to introduce this critical piece of legislation, and will continue fighting for America's veterans."

The HBOT Access Act is endorsed by the American Legion.

Senator Tuberville represents Alabama's more than 400,000 veterans on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee; where he has worked to make targeted, yet meaningful changes to how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) delivers care and benefits for veterans.

Tuberville has introduced several pieces of legislation that have been signed into law, including the Supporting Families of the Fallen Act, Restoring Benefits to Defrauded Veterans Act, and legislation to streamline Post-9/11 benefits for service members and their dependents.