Brain Injury Blog | Traumatic Brain Injury TBI

Scientists have for the first time recorded individual brain cells in the act of summoning a spontaneous memory, revealing not only where a remembered experience is registered but also, in part, how the brain is able to recreate it.

Read more at the NY Times

On behalf of the Brain Injury Association of America, I am thrilled to announce that yesterday a group of United States Senators, led by Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Barack Obama (D-IL), sent a letter to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates calling on him to enact official coverage of cognitive rehabilitation within the military’s TRICARE health insurance program. Continue Reading »

Symposium on Deep Brain Stimulation Held in Washington, D.C.

On Tuesday, BIAA Government Affairs Associate Robert Demichelis attended “Brain Pacemakers: A Promising Approach and a New Era of Hope for Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders,” a symposium on deep brain stimulation sponsored by The Office on Disability, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Cleveland Clinic Center for Neurological Restoration. Continue Reading »

BIAA Roots On Servicemembers at Wounded Warrior Soldier Ride White House Kickoff

A representative of BIAA was invited to attend an event hosted by President George W. Bush on Thursday at the White House. BIAA Government Affairs Director Laura Schiebelhut was proud to be part of the inspiring event, which honored a group of wounded warriors as they kicked off the Wounded Warrior Project’s second annual “Soldier Ride: White House to Light House Challenge.”

Soldier Ride, sponsored by the Wounded Warrior Project, is a rehabilitative cycling program for wounded warriors, including individuals with brain injury. For many of these combat-wounded veterans, Soldier Ride provides the first steps in the return to an active lifestyle.

BIAA Submits Testimony to Senate Appropriations Subcommittee

Also this week, BIAA submitted written testimony to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee in charge of funding TBI programs within the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education. BIAA’s testimony urges an increase in funding in Fiscal Year 2009 for programs authorized through the TBI Act, as well as TBI research programs conducted within the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR).

Within the testimony, BIAA requests $30 million in funding for programs authorized through the TBI Act, as well as sufficient funding to sustain and increase medical rehabilitation research within NIDRR. The testimony also urges an allocation of at least $8.3 million to allow NIDRR to continue to fund 16 TBI Model Systems research centers.

In addition, BIAA played a leading role, along with other national organizations, in recent weeks in drafting and circulating an organizational sign-on letter in support of FY09 TBI appropriations. The letter, which was signed by over 25 organizations - including several veterans organizations - was recently delivered to both the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.

Copies of both BIAA’s written testimony and the Organizational Sign-On Letter in support of appropriations for TBI programs can be obtained by visiting BIAA’s website at the following address: http://www.biausa.org/policyissues.htm.

Bill to Delay Harmful Medicaid Regulations on House Floor This Week

Please call your Representative TODAY OR TOMORROW and urge them to vote YES on H.R. 5613 - The Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act - when it is considered by the House of Representatives this week.

The bill would delay the implementation of seven harmful Medicaid regulations through March 2009, including several rules which would be especially harmful to individuals with brain injury. The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the bill either tomorrow (Tuesday, April 22) or the next day (Wednesday, April 23).

This week saw major activity occur on H.R. 5613, legislation recently introduced which would place a moratorium until March 2009 on seven Medicaid regulations issued by the Department of Health and Human Services.  On Wednesday, the bill was unanimously approved by the full House Energy and Commerce Committee, setting up a potential veto showdown with the White House.  BIAA has strongly endorsed this legislation and submitted an official letter of endorsement to the bill’s sponsors, Rep. Dingell (D-MI) and Rep. Murphy (R-PA), last week. Continue Reading »

Last night, the House of Representatives passed legislation to reauthorize the Traumatic Brain Injury Act (S. 793), by a vote of 392-1. BIAA thanks all of you who called your Representatives and urged them to vote YES on the bill! Continue Reading »

Last night, the Senate passed a slightly revised version of S. 793, the Traumatic Brain Injury Act, which exactly matches the House version passed earlier this week. The bill has now been cleared entirely by Congress and will be forwarded on to the President for his signature!!! Continue Reading »

In addition this week, BIAA submitted an official letter of endorsement for H.R. 2818, The VA Epilepsy Centers of Excellence Act of 2007, which would establish six VA Epilepsy Centers of Excellence (Epilepsy CoEs) across the country to lead the way in epilepsy diagnosis, research, treatment and surgery. Continue Reading »