Brain Injury Blog | Traumatic Brain Injury TBI

Also of note this week was the Department of Veterans Affairs’ publication of a Final Rule to revise the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities to provide detailed and updated criteria for evaluating residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Continue Reading »

In response to the fact that no single Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 appropriations bill has been enacted this year, the House passed on Wednesday an omnibus continuing appropriations bill to fund most government programs – including TBI and trauma-related programs - at Fiscal 2008 (last year’s) levels until March 6, 2009. Continue Reading »

Reflecting one of BIAA’s biggest public policy accomplishments this year, a group of Senators issued a letter on August 4, 2008 to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates urging official TRICARE coverage of cognitive rehabilitation. Continue Reading »

A large majority of the American public still believes that the government will provide long term care when needed. It is this misconception that most likely prevents people from doing any planning at a younger age for the future need for care. According to the National Care Planning Council, (www.longtermcarelink.net) many people believe they can give away assets prior to the need for long term care and qualify for Medicaid. The Council suggests that this belief prevents people from considering other ways to fund the cost of future care. Continue Reading »

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 »

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 »

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 »

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (H.R. 3195) with strong bipartisan backing by a vote of 402-15. Earlier in the week, BIAA formally endorsed this legislation, which is designed to strengthen protections for individuals with disabilities originally enacted through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. 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 »

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 »