Tag Archives: iraq brain injury

VA Signs Interagency Agreement With NIDRR-Funded TBI Model Systems

In an exciting development, the U.S. Department of Education’s National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) recently signed an Interagency Agreement (IAA) with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the NIDRR-funded Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems National Data

Defense Secretary Gates Responds to Senators’ Letter on Cognitive Rehabilitation

United States Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has responded to the letter a group of Senators issued on August 4, 2008 calling on him to ensure official TRICARE coverage of cognitive rehabilitation. As you may recall, BIAA played a crucial

Second Annual Greek Dinner & Dance For Thought

The California Brain Injury Association held its 2nd Annual Greek Dinner & Dance For Thought at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church Cultural Center Hall in Long Beach on Saturday, March 8th. The event was the first of many planned events

BIAA Representatives Attend Trauma Spectrum Disorders Conference

Multiple BIAA representatives attended this week a scientific conference titled, “Trauma Spectrum Disorders: The Role of Gender, Race & Other Socioeconomic Factors.”

BIAA Signs on To Coalition Letter Opposing Proposed Medicaid Outpatient Regulation

BIAA recently signed on to a coalition letter urging Congress to enact a moratorium on a regulation proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to restrict Medicaid reimbursement for outpatient services. This regulation is termed the “Medicaid

Congress Authorizes VA Epilepsy Centers of Excellence

Last week, the House passed an omnibus veterans health care package (S. 2612), including key provisions of The Epilepsy Centers of Excellence Act (H.R. 2818/S. 2004), which BIAA has strongly endorsed.

Appropriations Update

Last week, the House passed 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.

House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Approves TBI Funding

On a related note, the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee passed its version of the Fiscal 2009 Defense Appropriations bill on July 30, 2008, including hundreds of millions of dollars allocated for TBI. The funding bill approved by the Subcommittee includes

House Approves Military Construction-VA Spending Bill Without TBI Amendments

Despite little progress on appropriations so far this year, the House of Representatives was able to pass its version of the Fiscal 2009 Military Construction-VA spending bill (H.R. 6599) by a vote of 409-4 on August 1, 2008.

The Military’s TRICARE Health Insurance Program

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