H.R. 1402 – Boxing Therapy for Parkinson’s Access Act of 2023

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Updated January 20, 2026 at 4:26 AM UTC

The Boxing Therapy for Parkinson’s Access Act of 2023 amends the veterans’ health care law to let the Department of Veterans Affairs cover boxing‑style exercise classes for veterans with certain movement disorders. It requires the VA to either provide these classes at its facilities or reimburse veterans who take them elsewhere. The bill applies to veterans enrolled in VA health care who have Parkinson’s disease or a similar movement disorder and who choose to use the classes as treatment.

Key Provisions

Adds a new Section 1720K to Title 38, directing the VA Secretary to furnish or reimburse boxing‑based exercise classes for eligible veterans.
Defines a “covered movement disorder” as Parkinson’s disease or a similar movement disorder.
Specifies that the veteran must be enrolled in VA health care, have a diagnosed covered movement disorder, and elect to participate in the classes.
Sets the coverage to take effect 180 days after the law’s enactment.

Legislative Activity

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3 earlier actions

HouseFloor Latest Action

ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Mr. LaHood asked unanimous consent that he may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 1402, a bill originally introduced by Representative Higgins (NY), for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.

May 23, 2024 • 2:05 PM

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 7, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

March 7, 2023

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

March 30, 2023

HouseFloor

ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Mr. LaHood asked unanimous consent that he may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 1402, a bill originally introduced by Representative Higgins (NY), for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.

May 23, 2024 • 2:05 PM

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 1402 on the floor

1 Republican

Rep. Darin LaHoodR-IL-16 · May 23, 2024

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered to be the primary sponsor of H.R. 1402, a bill originally introduced by Representative Higgins of New York, for the purpose of…

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 7, 2023

I

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1402

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 7, 2023

Mr. Higgins of New York (for himself and Mr. LaHood) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

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.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Boxing Therapy for Parkinson’s Access Act of 2023.

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):

1720K.

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.