Monthly Archives: October 2009
Legislative Report October 2009
The Legislature finally went into Interim Recess for the 2009-2010 Legislative Session on September 11. To say this first half of the two-year legislative session was the most difficult, heart wrenching, and brutal Sessions of all time would be a huge understatement. The on-going State fiscal crisis remains the dominate issue that is driving all policy and fiscal decisions. Few bills reached the Governor’s desk this year, and fewer will be signed by the Governor.
An Impending Marriage is the Result of the 1st Annual Walk For Thought
Dianna Bolen
A life can change dramatically in a flash and sometimes for the best. On September 16, 2004, I, Dianna Bolen, was on my way to a bike fest in Las Vegas, NV on my 1993 Harley Davidson Sportster with 3 other bikers. For some unknown reason, and not even the highway patrol knows why, I went off the freeway, flew 100 feet, went over a barb wire fence, and landed in the desert ground with my bike on top of me. This accident happened in Arizona where wearing a helmet is optional. I was SMART and was wearing mine.
Strong Link Found Between Concussions and Brain Tissue Injury
Concussions, whether from an accident, sporting event, or combat, can lead to permanent loss of higher level mental processes. Scientists have debated for centuries whether concussions involve structural damage to brain tissue or whether physiological changes that merely impair the way brain cells function, explain this loss. Now, for the first time, researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have linked areas of brain injury to specific altered mental processes caused by concussions.
Man awarded $49M for brain damage in crash with truck
Man awarded $49M for brain damage in crash with truck
A passenger who sustained traumatic brain injuries in a multi-vehicle crash while on his way to a camping trip was awarded $49 million. In 2007, Drew Bianchi, then a 21-year-old college student, was in a sedan on Route 152, also known as the Pacheco Pass. Michael Demma and Samuel Bimbela were driving trucks toward each other when they collided at or near the center line, causing Bimbela to lose control of his Peterbilt truck and broadside the Bianchi vehicle. Bianchi was in a coma for about a month and is expected to require 24-hour care for the rest of his life. Plaintiff’s counsel claimed that Bimbela was sleep-deprived and Demma was on a cell phone while driving. Bianchi settled with the state in July for $10 million on his claim of dangerous condition of public property. Of Bianchi’s award, he received $27.6 million for future medical care.
Bianchi v. Demma
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Health Care Reform Update October 16, 2009
Next week, the House is expected to obtain Congressional Budget Office (CBO) cost estimates on three proposals to create a public, government-run insurance option designed to compete with private insurers. From there, Democratic leaders plan to choose one of the options to include in their final health care reform bill and then submit the final product to CBO for scoring.
According to recent reports, both the House and Senate are expected to debate their health measures simultaneously sometime in early November.
BIAA will continue to monitor the situation closely and alert grassroots advocates if any action is necessary.
Health Care Reform Update
This week the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) delivered their estimate of the Senate Finance Committee health care reform package. The bill scored under the $900 billion goal and would reduce the deficit by more than expected while covering millions more of the uninsured. (CQ)
FY10 National Defense Authorization Act
On Wednesday, October 7, 2009, the House and Senate Armed Services Committees announced that they had reached an agreement on a conference report to H.R. 2647, the Fiscal Year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act.
National Defense Authorization Update
As reported in a previous edition of Policy Corner, the Senate version of this year’s National Defense Authorization bill includes an amendment that authorizes the Secretary of Defense to carry out a pilot program for providing cognitive rehabilitation therapy services under TRICARE.
Appropriations Update
Last week, Congress considered a measure, known as a continuing resolution (CR), that would keep the government funded into the 2010 fiscal year, which began on October 1, 2009. TBI related programs will be funded at FY2009 levels until the spending bills for next year have been approved.
Health Care Reform Update
This week the Senate finance committee wrapped up debate on its version of a health care reform package. The committee now has finished debating the more than one hundred amendments offered to the bill. A final vote is possible next week, although the finance committee cautiously waits to hear the cost estimate of the measure from the congressional budget office.
BIAA will continue to monitor the situation as the legislation progresses.
