WE NOW KNOW WHAT'S BEHIND MANY OF OUR VETERANS WHO DIE BY SUICIDE. NOW WE NEED TO ACT.
The science is clear. The solutions exist. The only thing missing is the political will to change a broken system. Your signatures can change that.
A Legislative Solution Driven by Science
The Mac Parkman Foundation, in partnership with Congressman Derrick Van Orden, has drafted the “Blast Exposure Brain Health Improvement Act.” This landmark legislation translates the scientific evidence into concrete policy, addressing the crisis at its core.
This isn’t about more awareness campaigns—it’s about fundamentally changing the standard of care for every veteran in America.
“We spent billions treating symptoms while our warriors died from the underlying injury. I wrote this legislation to stop the bleeding. It is the comprehensive, science-based solution that finally treats the root cause—Traumatic Brain Injury—and gives our veterans the chance to truly come home.”
Our bill will mandate five critical changes:
Education & Awareness: Require training for all medical providers on RBE.
Accurate Diagnosis: Mandate brain scans and proven assessment protocols.
Effective Treatment: Ensure access to neuro-restorative therapies.
Standardized Billing Codes: Create the financial infrastructure for treatment.
Mandatory Insurance Coverage: Require insurers to cover these life-saving treatments.
The Legislative Landscape: Completing the Mission
We applaud the introduction of the Precision Brain Health Research Act (S.800), which authorizes $50 million over ten years for research, and the BEACON Act, which provides $30 million in grants for non-VA treatment partnerships. These bills are vital steps forward that will advance research and expand provider networks.
The “Cliff of Care” Risk
Research grants and pilot programs are temporary. The $30 million from the BEACON Act and the $5 million annual research funding from S.800 will eventually run out. This creates a “Cliff of Care” where clinics close and treatments stop once the grant cycle ends.
The Blast Exposure Brain Health Improvement Act is the “Payment Engine” that prevents this cliff. It creates the billing codes and insurance mandates to ensure that once a treatment is proven (S.800) and a clinic is built (BEACON), the care is paid for—forever.
The Research Behind Our Legislative Push
Our legislative strategy, championed by Green Beret, SgtMaj (ret.) Bruce Parkman for over a year, is now powerfully reinforced by the clinical findings in Michael Hartford’s white paper, “Changing the Paradigm.” The paper provides the independent medical evidence to prove that the brain-first approach we have fought for is not only more effective but also more cost-effective.
“If not now—when? The data are irrefutable… Every number in these statistics represents a name, a family, and a promise unfulfilled.”
Sign the Pledge to Save Our Veterans
References
2.TBI Diagnosis Statistics: Department of Defense TBI Center of Excellence, “DoD TBI Worldwide Numbers” (2000-2025).