Brain Injury Blog | Traumatic Brain Injury TBI

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 »

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 »

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 »

Progress on appropriations occurred this week on the Senate side, as the full Senate Appropriations Committee marked up and approved its Fiscal 2009 Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education funding bill. Continue Reading »

Also this week, BIAA joined coalition efforts focused on several important policy issues impacting the disability community, including efforts to protect Medicaid, strengthen the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and formally comment on recently proposed rules concerning the Developmental Disabilities Act. Continue Reading »

The House of Representatives passed the final fiscal 2009 budget resolution conference report (S. Con Res 70) on Thursday, by a narrow vote of 214-210. The Senate adopted the same resolution on June 4 by a vote of 48-45. Continue Reading »

SPRINGFIELD, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nearly 2000 individuals with brain injuries will be able to move out of nursing facilities and other institutions under a landmark settlement agreement signed today by state officials and attorneys for the plaintiffs. Continue Reading »

By MARK JEWELL Associated Press Writer

BOSTON— The state will help brain-injured patients move out of nursing homes and into communities under a proposed settlement to a lawsuit.

The agreement filed in U.S. District Court in Springfield on Monday is subject to final approval from a judge.

Representatives of four brain-injured patients and the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts filed the lawsuit last year. They alleged the state violated federal disability law by failing to provide community services for people with brain injuries, leaving many trapped in nursing homes and institutions. Continue Reading »

Floor consideration of a possible final version of the fiscal 2009 budget resolution (S. Con. Res. 70) could take place next week, as Congress works to accomplish legislative goals before leaving town for a week-long Memorial Day Recess beginning on Monday, May 26. Continue Reading »

An amendment related to the war supplemental bill passed by the House earlier this week contained a provision, strongly supported by the Brain Injury Association of America, which would delay implementation of seven Bush administration Medicaid regulations. Continue Reading »