Brain Injury Blog | Traumatic Brain Injury TBI

Also this week, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health passed a slightly revised version of 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. 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), this week. Continue Reading »

Congress passed legislation to reauthorize the Traumatic Brain Injury Act this week!  The bill is now ready to be sent on to the President for his signature into law.

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed S. 793 – the version of the legislation agreed upon by both chambers (more information below) - by a vote of 392-1.  Then, last night, the Senate cleared the bill one last time, marking final passage by Congress. Continue Reading »

Also this week, on Wednesday, March 12, the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) joined the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, and a variety of other advocacy groups, in successfully conducting Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol Hill. The day’s events drew the participation of several Members of Congress and their staff.

The first event of the day was the Brain Injury Awareness Fair, which was held in the foyer of the Rayburn House Office Building, and featured exhibits by numerous brain injury services and advocacy organizations. BIAA’s exhibit was highlighted by a colorful display of hundreds of “brain cranes,” hand-crafted by individuals with TBI from all over the nation. More information on the Brain Crane project, including a picture of the beautiful display, is available on the homepage of BIAA’s website at www.biausa.org.

The day also featured a very well-attended Congressional Briefing on the subject of “TBI and Community Needs.” The briefing included the perspectives of returning servicemembers with TBI and their families, as well as views from the civilian perspective, and explored the need for increasing collaborative efforts between the military and civilian sectors when it comes to TBI treatment, research, and services - including community supports.

The day finished with an evening reception held in a spirit of celebration, which honored Congressional leaders on TBI issues, including Congressional Brain Injury Task Force Co-Chairs Rep. Pascrell and Rep. Platts.

The House of Representatives returned to session this week, and promptly voted to pass a revised version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (H.R. 4986) to replace the version (H.R. 1585) vetoed by President Bush late last month. Important wounded warrior provisions related to TBI care, and championed by BIAA, remain unchanged in the new version.

The Senate is expected to pass the revised bill when it returns to session next week.

The revised bill contains new language altering a provision in the original bill which expanded the rights of victims to sue foreign governments designated by the State Department as state sponsors of terrorism.

The White House unexpectedly announced on December 28, 2007, that President Bush would not sign the original bill because it included a provision which could allow plaintiffs to freeze Iraq government assets in the United States while their claims against Iraq were being litigated (Iraq was listed as a state sponsor of terrorism under Saddam Hussein’s regime).

California Brain Injury Association’s (CALBIA) application to join the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) as a Chartered State Affili-ate was unanimously approved at the Annual Board of Directors Meeting held on December 7, 2007.

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ScienceDaily (Dec. 19, 2007) — A study of Vietnam war veterans who suffered brain injuries during the conflict has found that the men show a faster decline in their cognitive functioning as they grow older than veterans without such injuries. Continue Reading »

As they root for the home team from the bleachers this fall, high school gridiron fans in the small Illinois town of Tolono won’t necessarily see anything out of the ordinary down on the field. But just out of sight, tucked inside many of the maroon helmets worn by the Unity High School Rockets, a revolution of sorts is taking place. This season, 32 varsity team members are sporting helmets outfitted with the same electronic encoder modules now used by a handful of college teams. Continue Reading »

Former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis and renowned trainer Teddy Atlas are pulling no punches in backing the newly formed Combat Sports Center for Safety and Research (CSCSR). “I’m excited about being apart of this groundbreaking initiative. The research is important for the sport and will ensure the future safety of boxers,” notes Lewis.

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Name: PAMELA GOULD
During their first few days in the United States, 13 officers from the Iraqi army visited the traditional tourist spots of the nation’s capital.

They walked to the Lincoln Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Washington Monument and the White House, and spent time in the Smithsonian Institution. Continue Reading »

Sunday, May 7, 2006
By TOM VOGT, Columbian staff writer

Most people who participate in medical studies get a chance to weigh the pros and cons of a new drug or technique being used on them.

It’s called informed consent. It’s hard to get when an unconscious accident victim has been rescued from a crumpled car.

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