119th CONGRESS 2d Session |
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide coverage for boxing-based exercise classes for veterans diagnosed with certain movement disorders, and for other purposes.
June 4, 2026
Mr. LaHood (for himself and Ms. Budzinski) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide coverage for boxing-based exercise classes for veterans diagnosed with certain movement disorders, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
This Act may be cited as the “Boxing Therapy for Parkinson’s Access Act”.
SEC. 2. Boxing-based exercise classes for treatment of veterans diagnosed with certain movement disorders.
(a) Coverage.—Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section (and conforming the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter accordingly):
“§ 1720M. Boxing-based exercise classes for treatment of certain movement disorders
“(a) Classes.—In furnishing medical services under this chapter, the Secretary shall furnish boxing-based exercise classes to a veteran (through the provision of such classes to the veteran at a medical facility of the Department or the reimbursement for such classes provided to the veteran at a non-Department facility) if the veteran—
“(1) is enrolled in the health care system established under section 1705(a) of this title;
“(2) has been diagnosed with a covered movement disorder; and
“(3) elects to participate in such classes for the purpose of treating the covered movement disorder with which the veteran has been diagnosed.
“(b) Covered movement disorder defined.—In this section, the term ‘covered movement disorder’ means Parkinson’s disease or a similar movement disorder.”.
(b) Applicability.—The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to medical services furnished on or after the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.