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Primary Sponsor

Last Action

Ref to the Com on Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House2026-04-30

Vote Breakdown

No floor votes recorded.

Plain Language Summary

This bill appropriates $3 million in state funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to provide free hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) treatment to North Carolina veterans diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI) or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The funds will be directed to a nonprofit organization called HBOT 4 HEROES to deliver approximately 15,000 treatments to roughly 350 veterans, with progress reported back to the legislature by June 30, 2027.

Arguments in Favor

• •Supporters argue that this bill addresses a genuine health crisis among North Carolina's large veteran population by funding evidence-based treatment for conditions that increase suicide risk and functional impairment.
• •They point to prior state-funded pilot programs that demonstrated measurable improvements in veteran health outcomes and quality of life, and contend that providing nonpharmacologic treatment options better serves veterans' wellbeing than relying solely on medication.

Arguments Against

• •Opponents may question whether $3 million in nonrecurring state funds is the best use of limited budget resources, particularly if hyperbaric oxygen therapy coverage could be addressed through federal VA benefits or private insurance.
• •They might also express concern about the long-term sustainability of the program if it proves effective, since the funding is one-time and temporary, or ask whether the evidence base for HBOT treating PTSD and TBI is as definitive as supporters claim.