Gus Bilirakis Looking to Offer Veterans Alternative Therapies

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., the vice chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Veterans Affairs, unveiled the Creating Options for Veterans Expedited Recovery (COVER) Act on Thursday. The new bill would create a commission to examine how the VA currently handles therapy and will study alternative therapies for veterans.

It is vital that veterans receive the care they need, but it is important to recognize that one size does not fit all when discussing treatments for veterans and the invisible wounds endured from their service to our great nation, Bilirakis said. While many veterans may thrive under evidence-based treatment plans, some may not be as responsive to this traditional medical care. As such, we need to provide them with choices and easy access to alternative forms of therapies that work best for them.

We must find the most effective ways to treat veterans, Bilirakis added. The COVER Act will ascertain the viability of alternative treatments, providing a pathway forward that will eventually allow veterans to have a range of options for mental health treatments, such as outdoor sports therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, accelerated resolution therapy, and service dog therapy.