State Campaigns – North Dakota

SECTION 1.

APPROPRIATION -HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY PILOT PROGRAM 5 REPORT TO LEGISLATIVE MANAGEMENT.

6 1. There is appropriated out of any moneys in the tobacco prevention and control trust 7 fund in the state treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $335,000, or so 8 much of the sum as may be necessary, to the state department of health for the 9 purpose of contracting with a third party to implement a hyperbaric oxygen therapy 10 pilot program, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2019, and ending June 30, 2021.

11 2. The department shall contract with a local nonprofit entity with experience 12 implementing studies using hyperbaric oxygen for traumatic brain injuries to conduct a 13 pilot program for treatment of moderate to severely brain-injured North Dakotans using 14 an established protocol of hyperbaric oxygen therapy provided by a private entity with 15 experience in treating traumatic brain injury using medical-grade hyperbaric chambers 16 pressurized with one hundred percent oxygen. The goals of the study include 17 demonstrating improvement in brain-eye function using RightEye, significant 18 improvement in quality of life of injured patients, significant improvement in cognitive 19 abilities of injured patients, and financial savings and increased revenues for the state, 20 including possible savings for medical assistance and workers’ compensation and a 21 positive impact on income tax revenues. The pilot program design must be established 22 in consultation with a third-party physician.

Sixty-sixth Legislative Assembly

1 3. During the 2019-21 biennium, the department shall make periodic reports to the 2 legislative management on the status of the pilot program and whether the goals are 3 being realized.