Robot legs may soon help veterans with war-related injuries to walk again. The new technology is nothing short of miraculous, but being able to afford the $77,000 price tag for the devices will be difficult. Fortunately, the Department of Veterans’ might be helping injured vets by footing the bill.
The devices are called ReWalk, and the technology has been on the market since 2014. However, since they cost so much, veterans have been asking the VA to finance the technology for wounded warriors for some time.
Veterans Affairs says that it will pay for the robot legs for certain paralyzed veterans suffering from spinal cord injuries. This will be the first U.S. agency to finance robot legs for anyone.
Florida Republican Representative Jeff Miller approves of the VA financing the technology. He said that his committee has been trying to get the VA to use new technologies to serve veterans for some time.
ReWalk Robotics is benefiting financially from the VA’s plan to purchase the devices for wounded warriors. News of the announcement led to ReWalk’s shares increasing by a massive $100 percent.
The new technology provides hope to anyone who has been paralyzed by a spinal chord injury. Still, it should be noted that among the 45,000 veterans with spinal cord injuries, only a small number will meet the criteria required for this technology to be useful to them.
Veterans who would like to know whether they qualify to receive ReWalk robot legs should get in touch with a veterans’ benefits attorney to determine their eligibility for the program.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times, VA sets national policy for robotic legs for paralyzed vets,” Julie Watson, Dec. 18, 2015