The Marcus Institute for Brain Health is offering free evaluations and treatment for veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), according to a new announcement from the Department of Veterans Affairs' VAntage Point blog.
You do not need to be eligible for VA health care to qualify for this program, and there is no cost, according to the announcement. The institute is affiliated with the University of Colorado's medical school.
While veterans who are eligible for VA treatment or who have received treatment from the VA for their TBI are eligible for the program, priority will be given to those who aren't eligible for VA health care, it states.
Veterans with "other than honorable" or "dishonorable" discharges due to TBI or psychological conditions are given special consideration for entry into the program, according to the announcement. Civilians are also encouraged to apply.
No health insurance is required for treatment; everything is free, the announcement states. The only requirement to be considered is having persistent and primarily mild to moderate TBI and related conditions.
The program consists of a three- to four-day evaluation followed by a three- to four-week intensive outpatient program at the institute's location in Denver, Colorado. The program is customized for each individual but includes detailed diagnostic and treatment services that integrate conventional medicine with complementary and alternative medicine.
During the program, patients and families will receive extensive education regarding the nature of TBI and related conditions in order to self-manage symptoms and improve their quality of life. The program also partners with veteran-serving nonprofit agencies nationwide to offer follow-on care and assistance.
For those who don't live in the Denver area, the institute has partnered with a nonprofit organization, which coordinates transportation and meals for veterans and their family members who are accepted into the program.
Lodging is provided in remodeled officer housing on the old Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center grounds a block away from the treatment center.
The program was founded in 2017 thanks to a donation from Bernie Marcus, the retired co-founder of Home Depot. The gift was specifically designed to develop and open a "first ever" veteran-centric civilian TBI institute.
Since the program started in July 2017, more than 313 veterans and family members, from 24 states, have been evaluated and treated.
For more information, call the Marcus Institute for Brain Health at (303) 724-4TBI or visit its website.
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