Twelve months ago, The Bart Foundation, along with TreatNOW.org, and The Stram Center for Integrative Health, sent a letter to New York State elected officials Amy Paulin (District 88), Josh Jensen (District 134), and the New York State Assembly Health Committee members. Our request was to have them sponsor a bill that would allow HBOT treatments for veterans with diagnosed TBI/PTSD.
We can’t claim victory yet because the bill still needs to be passed and funded, but we have some positive news to share. The Bart Law, NYS A1869/S1715, will be voted on this legislative session and appears to have broad bipartisan support including unanimous sponsorship by Chairperson Amy Paulin’s Assembly Health Committee.
All of our fingers are crossed! Having this initiative come to fruition would be wonderful and amazing, and it would most surely make our son Bart smile. It has been our long-standing goal since Bart and I testified to the joint NYS Health committees in 2015. We are thankful for the muscle and expertise Robert L. Beckman, Ph.D., Co-Founder and Executive Director of TreatNOW.org brings to this process. He is a tireless and determined Veterans advocate.
The time is ripe for New York to approve this law. Ten states have already passed similar bills: OK, TX, IN, AZ, KY, FL, NC, MD, WY, and VA, and have appropriated over $32 million. New York has the fifth-largest veteran population in the U.S., and approximately 36,000 veterans have been diagnosed with TBI/PTSD.
We have long advocated for the use of HBOT, and our website’s news blog is filled with research studies conducted worldwide. This research shows HBOT’s effectiveness in helping control the challenges brought about by TBI/ABI and allowing people to live happier, more productive lives. Our family attests that HBOT treatments transformed our son Bart’s life and prospects.
We would like to encourage all New York residents to contact their state lawmakers to voice their support for The Bart Law, NYS A1869/S1715. Educating lawmakers is sorely needed and deeply appreciated. If you don’t live in New York but know someone who does, please forward this article to them.
Thank you for your support and attention to our work. Stay well and stay warm!
Joel
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