Brain Injury Blog | Traumatic Brain Injury TBI

According to CQ Today, “Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has scheduled a lame duck session beginning Nov. 17, when senators will already be in Washington for the biennial meetings to elect party leaders. In November, the lame ducks will vote on a massive package of public land bills that couldn’t get through the Senate individually because of a single persistent foe: Sen. Tom Coburn” (CQ Today, 10/02/08, Bart Jansen). Continue Reading »

The California Brain Injury Association held its 2nd Annual Greek Dinner & Dance For Thought at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church Cultural Center Hall in Long Beach on Saturday, March 8th. The event was the first of many planned events to raise awareness of brain injury during the month of March, which is Brain Injury Awareness Month. Approximately One hundred and fifty attendees were treated to traditional Greek hors d’oeuvres, Tiropites and Spanikopita, followed by a delicious Greek Dinner prepared by Thank Goodness Its Sophia Catering. Continue Reading »

While attending one of the California Brain Injury Association’s Caregiver Conferences in San Jose in August of 2007, Member Rachel Michelberg decided that she wanted to make a contribution to CALBIA by organizing a musical fundraising event. Continue Reading »

It started out as a challenge by CALBIA Board Chairman, Dr. Mark Ashley, but turned into reality on Saturday, March 29, 2008. The California Brain Injury Association (CALBIA) hosted the 1st Annual Statewide Walk For Thought in Bakersfield, Sacramento, and San Diego, while the Brainstorming 4 Us Support Group in Victorville hosted a walk of their own. With only 3 ½ months to plan the event, site coordinators and volunteers worked diligently to achieve the goal of CALBIA – to raise awareness statewide about brain injury. Continue Reading »

For the third consecutive year, the Bakersfield Condors Hockey Team provided a venue for the California Brain Injury Association to raise awareness of Brain Injury, and provide valuable information to the public. With over 6,000 people in attendance at the March 14th game, CALBIA was able to reach out to a number of people, many of which were children and seniors. Continue Reading »

It is an historic time at the State Capitol. The 2007-2008 Legislative Session is all but over, with one huge exception: The Legislature approving a State Budget! On August 31 the Legislature completed its final business on thousands of bills introduced and acted on during the 2007-2008 Session. Due to the horrific fiscal state the State of California is in, thousands of bills were defeated due to the fiscal crisis and lack of funds. Continue Reading »

Pennsylvania motorcyclists suffered large increases in head injury deaths and hospitalizations in the two years following the repeal of its motorcycle helmet law, according to a University of Pittsburgh study. Even after accounting for increases in motorcycle registrations that occurred during this period, study authors noted a 32 percent increase in head injury deaths and a 42 percent increase in head injury-related hospitalizations, raising concerns about motorcyclists’ safety and the impact of this trend on health care costs. Continue Reading »

BIAA recently signed on to a coalition letter urging Congress to enact a moratorium on a regulation proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to restrict Medicaid reimbursement for outpatient services. This regulation is termed the “Medicaid Outpatient Clinic and Hospital Services Rule,” and it would reduce federal Medicaid funding to states for freestanding health clinics and hospital outpatient departments. Continue Reading »

Within the past few days, Congress also passed the FY 2009 defense authorization bill (S. 3001). This legislation contains a “Sense of Congress on TBI Research.” Specifically, the bill states in Sec. 725: Continue Reading »

Last week, the House passed an omnibus veterans health care package (S. 2612), including key provisions of The Epilepsy Centers of Excellence Act (H.R. 2818/S. 2004), which BIAA has strongly endorsed.

Over the weekend, the Senate also passed this legislation and it is expected to be signed into law by the President imminently. Continue Reading »