Military Brain Health: Mandatory Monitoring and Safety Standards for Blast Exposure.
This Act aims to improve service members' brain health by mandating neurocognitive assessments, monitoring blast overpressure exposure, and establishing the comprehensive Warfighter Brain Health Initiative. These changes ensure better identification, treatment, and prevention of brain injuries, which can lead to severe health issues, including suicide, thereby enhancing the safety and quality of medical care for military personnel.
Key points
Mandatory Brain Testing: Introduction of mandatory neurocognitive assessments at accession, every three years, post-deployment, and prior to separation to monitor service members' cognitive function.
Blast Exposure Logging: Creation and maintenance of detailed logs for blast overpressure exposure and traumatic brain injuries for every service member, ensuring those with recurrent exposure are referred to specialty care.
New Weapon Safety Standards: Requirement for new weapons systems to minimize blast overpressure exposure as a performance parameter, with manufacturers mandated to provide safety and measurement data.
Comprehensive Brain Health Program: Establishment of the Warfighter Brain Health Initiative to unify DoD efforts in preventing, diagnosing, and treating brain injuries, including setting safe blast exposure thresholds.
Specialized Care: Establishment of the National Intrepid Center of Excellence as a program of record, providing interdisciplinary care for traumatic brain injury and PTSD, including childcare services.
Expired
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