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Meeting Public Comments

Subcommittee meeting and times are as follows:
HF 2662
A bill for an act establishing a veterans recovery program and fund for the reimbursement of expenses related to providing hyperbaric oxygen treatment to eligible veterans, and making appropriations.(Formerly HF 2481.)
Subcommittee members: Lohse-CH, Meyer, A., Wilburn
Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Location: RM 304
Names and comments are public records. Remaining information is considered a confidential record.
Comments Submitted:

04-06-2026
Jason Feuerbach [University of Iowa Hospital]
I am the safety officer at the university of Iowa Hyperbaric facility. I am probably one of the fore most experts on HBOT in Iowa. If you read the testimonies of our service men and woman who have received HBOT then there is no way that you can discount if HBO works in the wake of PTSD. I have spoken many time to an organization call Treatnow.org and they have supplied me with plenty of data that shows HBO can have a profound impact on patients who suffer from PTSD. We here at the University of Iowa would be happy and are eager to make an impact on this under serviced population of vets who need our help.
04-06-2026
Chris LoRang [Iowa HBOT]
To whom it may concern:I know this bill is the right thing for our veterans and for our community. The research is strong, showing that HBOT is perhaps the very best (and most wellresearched) tool we have to help veterans with PTSD/TBIs.We see patients with brain injuries each week and hyperbaric has been the tool that has helped them the most. This will be a winwin for our veterans and our state.I encourage you to vote yes on progressing this bill.Chris LoRang, DCFunctional Medicine Hyperbaric PractitionerOwner, Iowa HBOT
04-06-2026
Robert Beckman [TreatNOW]
The TreatNOW Coalition has been working for 18 years to help heal brain wounds and prevent suicides. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is proven safe and effective for TBI/PTSD/BLAST/Concussion. The attached file presents facts to inform the dialogue and help save Veterans's lives:7,085+ U.S. service members killed in combat since 9/11 1 Million wounded in action161,000+ veterans have died by suicide since 9/11 nearly 23 times the combat death toll109,000+ veterans have died from drug overdose prescribed and otherwise since 9/11270,000+ total veteran deaths from suicide and overdose combined nearly 38 times the combat death toll17.6 veterans die by suicide every single day the VAs own number and the trend is UPWARD year over year. Heal Brains. Stop Suicides. Restore Lives and Families. TreatNOWPlease see www.treatnow.orgHundredsof videos available at: https://www.youtube.com/treatnowdotorg
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04-06-2026
Lori Stiles [Citizen Advocate, TreatNOW Coalition volunteer POC]
The 1990 Handbook of Military Treatment cited HBOT as a Definitive Treatment in the presence of skull fracture/head trauma (as experienced by BLAST injuries, repetitive concussions, etc.). 35 yrs later, Vet's still do not have this effective and restorative treatment available to them as a covered medical expense for TBI/PTSD. State legis. like HF 2662 is a workaround. We propose the program be run through an existing 501(c)3,with oversight.28 clinical trials since 2007 have proven success in healing these brain injuries with essentially a onceanddone treatmentseries protocol. Approx. 67% of Vet's who undergo a course of HBOxygen Treatments wean off most or all of their pharmaceuticals (including opioids). All TBI drugs and all but two PTSD meds are used in offlabel fashion. ALL those meds list 'suicidal ideation' as a potential side effect. Please allow Oxygen to be used 'off label' when the results are clear: It reduces/eliminates suicidal ideation and restores funcion!
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