Legislation is being introduced in the US House of Representatives that will enhance the opportunity for clinically eligible veterans to gain access to powered exoskeletons, and to ensure the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) is delivering the technology in both a routine and timely manner.
In recognition of Veterans Day, the Veterans Spinal Trauma Access to New Devices (STAND) Act will be introduced by Representative Jack Bergman (MI-01) and co-led by the Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Mike Bost (IL-12), Ranking Member of the Health Subcommittee Julia Brownley (CA-26), and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-6). Bergman is a retired United States Marine Corps lieutenant general.
“General Bergman’s leadership on this issue has been instrumental in promoting transparency and reliability at the VA for those veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders whose overall health can be profoundly improved by regaining the ability to walk with exoskeleton technology,” said Larry Jasinski, CEO of ReWalk Robotics. “We look forward to working with General Bergman, his colleagues in the House, the US Senate and the VA leadership to standardize the process for evaluation, training and delivery of exoskeletons to eligible veterans in need.”
