Archive for the 'Recent TBI News' Category

Jul 22 2008

BIAA Urges Presidential Candidates to Participate in Fort Presidential Town Hall

BIAA issued a Legislative Action Alert this week urging both presidential candidates to attend the 2008 Fort Hood Presidential Town Hall and engage in an in-depth discussion of the increasingly complex issues facing America’s military and veterans community, including the rate of traumatic brain injury among returning service members. BIAA is a member of the 2008 Fort Hood Presidential Town Hall Consortium, and the event is tentatively scheduled to occur on August 11, 2008. Continue Reading »

No responses yet

Jul 22 2008

Senate Appropriations Committee Passes Military Construction-VA Funding Bill

Also this week, although appropriations activity remains stalled in the House, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved its version of the fiscal 2009 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs spending bill, containing increased funding for medical research, including TBI research.

The bill allocates $526.8 million for medical research targeted to the veteran population, including research into mental health, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury, polytraumatic physical activities and sensory abilities, such as hearing and vision loss. Continue Reading »

No responses yet

Jul 22 2008

Congress Overrides Presidential Veto To Pass Crucial Medicare Bill

In a welcome development on Tuesday, Congress successfully overrode the president’s veto of key Medicare legislation (H.R. 6331). The bill, which will now become law, prevents deep cuts in Medicare payment rates to physicians, replacing a 10.6 percent cut to Medicare’s physician payment rates with 18 months of stable payments.

This vital legislation also contains an 18-month delay in implementation of Medicare’s competitive bidding program for Durable Medical Equipment (DME), as well as an 18-month extension of the Medicare outpatient therapy cap exceptions process. Both of these provisions are vitally important to many individuals with brain injury who rely on Medicare in order to receive health care and rehabilitative services. Continue Reading »

No responses yet

Jul 22 2008

Urge Your Senator to Support Medicare Package

On Wednesday, July 8, 2008, by a vote of 69-30, the Senate approved Medicare legislation (H.R. 6331) to prevent a 10.6% payment cut to physicians. In addition to preventing harmful payment cuts to physicians, this Medicare bill includes other important provisions which would improve care for individuals with brain injury.

These critical provisions include an 18-month extension of the Medicare outpatient therapy caps exceptions process, a component of the bill strongly supported by advocates working to improve access to vital rehabilitation therapies for individuals with brain injury. Continue Reading »

No responses yet

Jul 22 2008

Urge Presidential Candidates to Participate In the 2008 Fort Hood Presidential Town Hall!

Town Hall Would Facilitate Discussion of Issues Facing America’s Military and Veteran Community, Including Traumatic Brain Injury

The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) recently joined a consortium of non-profit organizations dedicated to serving active military, veterans, their families and their survivors, in inviting the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates to Fort Hood, Texas, for an in-depth discussion of the increasingly complex issues facing America’s military and veteran community. The CBS television network has agreed to produce and broadcast the very important Town Hall meeting in prime time on Monday, August 11, 2008. Continue Reading »

No responses yet

Jul 18 2008

BIAA Urges Presidential Candidates to Participate in Fort Hood Town Hall Event

BIAA issued a press release today urging both presidential candidates to attend the 2008 Fort Hood Presidential Town Hall and engage in an in-depth discussion of the increasingly complex issues facing America’s military and veterans community, including the rate of traumatic brain injury among returning service members.  BIAA is a member of the 2008 Fort Hood Presidential Town Hall Consortium, and the event is tentatively scheduled to occur on August 11, 2008. Continue Reading »

No responses yet

Jul 14 2008

Urge Your Senator to Support Medicare Package

On Wednesday, July 8, 2008, by a vote of 69-30, the Senate approved Medicare legislation (H.R. 6331) to prevent a 10.6% payment cut to physicians.  In addition to preventing harmful payment cuts to physicians, this Medicare bill includes other important provisions which would improve care for individuals with brain injury. Continue Reading »

No responses yet

Jul 14 2008

Fiscal 2009 Appropriations Process Still Stalled

Published by scarlettlawgroup under Recent TBI News

The Fiscal Year 2009 appropriations process continues to be stalled, as the House Appropriations Committee does not plan on marking up any more bills this summer after a partisan dispute erupted in recent weeks over amendments on energy policy.  And while the Senate Appropriations Committee plans to have all 12 of its bills approved by the panel by the end of this month, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said this week that action on appropriations in his chamber will be very limited in the next few months. Continue Reading »

No responses yet

Jul 14 2008

Surprise Appearance By Senator Kennedy Pushes Senate to Pass Medicare Bill

In a welcome and surprising turn of events this week, the Senate voted by a veto-proof margin of 69-30 to pass a key Medicare bill (H.R. 6311), after a unexpected, dramatic appearance and “aye” vote by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) on Wednesday.  Sen. Kennedy had not been in the Capitol for six weeks, as he is recovering from surgery in early June to remove a malignant brain tumor. Continue Reading »

No responses yet

Jul 14 2008

BIAA Urges Presidential Candidates to Participate in Fort Hood Town Hall Event

BIAA issued a press release today urging both presidential candidates to attend the 2008 Fort Hood Presidential Town Hall and engage in an in-depth discussion of the increasingly complex issues facing America’s military and veterans community, including the rate of traumatic brain injury among returning service members.  BIAA is a member of the 2008 Fort Hood Presidential Town Hall Consortium, and the event is tentatively scheduled to occur on August 11, 2008. Continue Reading »

No responses yet

Next »