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Managing America: Veterans Matters

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Week Ending June 27, 2008

H.R.2818 To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the establishment of Epilepsy Centers of Excellence in the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Treatment of veterans with epilepsy would be expanded under this bill requiring the VA designate, establish and operate at least six VAMC’s as locations for epilepsy centers of excellence. The bill report noted “There is not one single cause of epilepsy and, in up to half of the epilepsy cases, it is not possible to specify the cause of the seizures. Research indicates that children may be born with a defect in the structure of their brain, or they may suffer a head injury or infection that causes epilepsy. Severe head injury and other neurological conditions such as strokes, tumors, and degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease are also known causes of epilepsy.”

The Veteran’s Health Administration will establish a peer review panel to assess the scientific and clinical value of proposals for designating the centers, but the bill also requires that “the Epilepsy Centers of Excellence be co-located with the five VA Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers located in Palo Alto, California; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Richmond, Virginia; Tampa, Florida; and, San Antonio, Texas. Co-locating the Epilepsy Centers of Excellence and the Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers will allow VA to optimize its already-existing resources and infrastructure to more effectively carry out the mission of the Centers.”

A coordinator will supervise center operations, coordinate support to better diagnose and research of epilepsy and traumatic brain injury and to evaluate progress. The centers will scrutinize the long-term effects of epilepsy including epilepsy developed as a result of combat, develop evidenced-based methods for treating the disease, provide continuous and consistent care, and develop a national system of coordinated care for veterans with epilepsy.

Sponsor:  Rep. Ed Perlmutter ©-7^th)

Vote: Passed House by voice vote June 24, 2008.

Cost to the taxpayers: “CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 2818 would cost $25 million over the 2009-2013 period, assuming that the specified amounts are appropriated and that outlays follow historical spending patterns for similar programs. Enacting the bill would have no effect on direct spending or revenues.”

Earmark Certification:   “H.R. 2818 does not contain any congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives.”

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MORE INFORMATION

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS OF THE LEGISLATION

Section 1. Short title

This section would provide the short title of H.R. 2818 as the `Veterans' Epilepsy Treatment Act of 2008.'

Section 2. Epilepsy Centers of Excellence

This section would amend chapter 73 of title 38, United States Code, to establish Epilepsy Centers of Excellence at each of the five polytrauma rehabilitation centers within the Department of Veterans Affairs. It requires that each center employ expert clinical and research staff. It also requires each center to function as a center for research on diagnosis, treatment and long-term effects of epilepsy; development of evidence-based methodology for treatment of epilepsy; coordination of care for veterans with epilepsy; development of a national referral system for veterans with epilepsy; expansion of telehealth technology for treatment of veterans with epilepsy; and dissemination of educational materials on the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy. This section authorizes appropriations in the amount of $5,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2009 through 2013.

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