Mr. President, the solution exists.
The Stellate Ganglion Block is a safe, FDA-utilized procedure that relieves PTSD symptoms in minutes — and Medicare already pays for it. Directing the VA to offer SGB to every veteran with PTSD would be the single largest action any president has ever taken to end the veteran suicide crisis.
The Crisis
PTSD affects an estimated 11-20% of veterans who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Traditional treatments work for some — but not enough.
Veterans with untreated or treatment-resistant PTSD
Veterans die by suicide every single day in the U.S.
Of veterans with PTSD do not receive adequate treatment
Months average wait for VA mental health appointment
The status quo is failing our veterans. Medications can take weeks to work and come with significant side effects. Talk therapy requires months or years. Many veterans give up — or never seek help at all. There is a better way.
The Foundation Is Already Laid
On March 5, 2019, President Trump signed Executive Order 13861 — the PREVENTS initiative — demanding an innovative, all-hands-on-deck approach to end the national tragedy of veteran suicide. SGB is exactly the kind of breakthrough that executive order envisioned.
This Cabinet-level, interagency effort created the first federally coordinated national public health strategy to address veteran suicide. The executive order called for aspirational, innovative solutions — not government as usual.
Directing the VA to offer Stellate Ganglion Block to every veteran with treatment-resistant PTSD would be the single largest concrete measure any president has ever taken to solve the veteran suicide crisis. The treatment is proven. The infrastructure exists. Medicare already covers it. All that's needed is the directive.
Help Make This HappenThe Solution
SGB is a minimally invasive procedure that has been used safely in medicine for over 100 years. Now research confirms it can dramatically reduce PTSD symptoms.
A cluster of nerves in the neck that controls the body's "fight or flight" response. In PTSD, this system gets stuck in overdrive — keeping veterans in a constant state of hyperarousal, anxiety, and fear.
Using ultrasound guidance, a physician injects a local anesthetic near the stellate ganglion. The procedure takes about 20 minutes and is performed in an outpatient setting — no general anesthesia, no hospital stay.
The anesthetic temporarily blocks the overactive nerve signals, allowing the sympathetic nervous system to "reset" to pre-trauma levels. Many veterans report feeling relief within 30 minutes of the procedure.
Clinical studies show significant reduction in PTSD symptoms that can last months. Combined with therapy, SGB gives veterans the window of calm they need to process trauma and rebuild their lives.
Relief in minutes, not months. Most patients feel improvement within the first hour.
Used in medicine for 100+ years. Minimal side effects. No sedation required.
The local anesthetic used in SGB is FDA-approved and so commonly trusted it is routinely used during childbirth (epidurals).
The federal government already pays for SGB under Medicare & Medicaid. The Medicare physician reimbursement is approximately $146 per treatment (CPT 64510).
About 20 minutes. Outpatient. Most veterans return to normal activity same day.
Studies show ~70% of patients experience meaningful PTSD symptom reduction.
The Evidence
Multiple peer-reviewed studies confirm what veterans already know — SGB works. The evidence is strong and growing.
Dr. Michael Hollifield, a leading PTSD researcher, has published rigorous clinical research demonstrating that SGB is both safe and effective for treating PTSD. His randomized controlled trials represent some of the strongest evidence to date for SGB as a PTSD treatment.
Multi-site, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study demonstrating SGB's efficacy for PTSD. Showed clinically meaningful improvement in PTSD symptoms with an excellent safety profile.
Published in peer-reviewed journalOne of the largest studies of SGB for PTSD in active-duty military. Demonstrated significant improvement in PTSD symptoms. Further validated SGB as a viable treatment option.
Published in peer-reviewed journalMultiple systematic reviews and meta-analyses have examined SGB for PTSD, consistently finding positive outcomes. The evidence base continues to grow with each new study.
Multiple peer-reviewed publications"The data supports SGB as a safe, fast-acting intervention that can meaningfully reduce PTSD symptoms. This is not experimental — it's evidence-based medicine that can save lives."
— Reflecting the consensus of leading SGB researchers
See the Proof
These are not hypotheticals. Real veterans, real stories, real results. From Medal of Honor recipients to 60 Minutes investigations — the evidence speaks for itself.
Bill Whitaker reports on Stellate Ganglion Block for CBS 60 Minutes, featuring Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer and retired Army General Donald Bolduc. Covers Army-funded research published in JAMA Psychiatry.
Marine veteran and Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer describes how SGB transformed his life, instantly relieving his PTSD-related anxiety. He now gets the procedure once or twice a year.
U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret Trevor Beaman shares his 24 years of service, his battle with trauma and PTSD, and the breakthrough treatment that finally changed his life.
Real Impact
Behind the statistics are real people whose lives have been transformed by SGB.
Take Action
President Trump has already shown he wants to solve this crisis. Help us put the solution on his desk. Share this page, contact your representatives, and demand that the VA make SGB available to every veteran.
Tell President Trump and your representatives: the PREVENTS executive order called for innovation — SGB is that innovation. It takes less than 2 minutes to make your voice heard.
Dear Mr. President / [Senator/Representative],
I am writing in support of your PREVENTS Executive Order (EO 13861) and to urge you to take the next bold step: direct the VA to offer Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) treatment to every veteran suffering from PTSD.
Peer-reviewed research, including randomized controlled trials and studies published in JAMA Psychiatry, has demonstrated that SGB is a safe and effective treatment for PTSD. This minimally invasive, 20-minute procedure uses an FDA-approved anesthetic to provide rapid relief — often within minutes — for veterans who have not responded to traditional treatments.
The federal government already pays for SGB under Medicare at approximately $146 per treatment. The infrastructure exists. The science is clear. With 22 veterans dying by suicide every day, this single directive would be the largest concrete measure any president has ever taken to end the veteran suicide crisis.
Your PREVENTS initiative called for aspirational, innovative solutions — not government as usual. SGB is exactly that solution. Please act now.
Respectfully,
[Your Name]
The more people who see this, the harder it is to ignore. Share this page with everyone you know — on social media, in group chats, with your local veteran organizations. Every share gets us closer to the White House.
If you or a veteran you know is suffering from PTSD, an SGB provider may be able to help. Use these resources to find qualified physicians offering the procedure.
Are you a provider offering SGB for PTSD? Contact us to be listed as a resource on this site.
Sign up to receive updates on our campaign to bring SGB to the VA. Together, we can build the coalition that puts this solution on the President's desk.
You'll receive updates on how SGB is changing lives and how you can help.