Brain Injury Blog | Traumatic Brain Injury TBI

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 »

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.

Earlier this evening, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health approved the Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008 and forwarded it on for consideration by the full Committee. The bill which was passed by the Subcommittee tonight was a slightly amended version of H.R. 1418.

The bill is now ready to be taken up by the full House Energy and Commerce Committee. This is a very positive development towards the goal of getting the TBI Act reauthorized before the end of this year, and a very exciting development for Brain Injury Awareness Month!

Right at this moment, no further grassroots activity is needed, but please stay tuned to BIAA for more information as things move forward.

The Congressional Brain Injury Task Force is hosting a “2008 Brain Injury Awareness Day,” on Capitol Hill, March 12, 2008.

To celebrate March as Brain Injury Awareness Month, the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force is hosting a “2008 Brain Injury Awareness Day,” on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, on Capitol Hill.

Multiple events are planned, which are designed to educate Members of Congress and their staff about brain injury.  These events include an Awareness Day Fair, which will feature exhibits and informational materials from individuals and organizations working in the field of brain injury.  The day will also include a Congressional Briefing focused on the topic of “Traumatic Brain Injury and Community Needs.”  The end of the day will feature an early-evening Congressional Reception sponsored by various national advocacy organizations, including the National Brain Injury Treatment and Training Foundation (NBIRTT), the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA), the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) and the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA).

BIAA invites all advocates to attend “2008 Brain Injury Awareness Day” events, and help educate Members of Congress and their staff.  The Day also represents an important opportunity to network with others interested in helping increase brain injury awareness. click here for more…

Also this week, both chambers of Congress held important hearings on efforts to improve health care for returning service members, as well as to improve the veterans’ disability benefits system. BIAA submitted questions and comments in relation to several of the hearings.

The Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing on “Care for Sick and Wounded Service Members” on Tuesday, February 13. BIAA submitted questions for the hearing regarding TRICARE coverage of cognitive rehabilitation.

On Thursday, he House Veterans Affairs Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee held a hearing on the VA’s disability claims system. BIAA submitted its recent Comment Letter on a Proposed Rule by the Department of Veterans Affairs to overhaul the Schedule for Rating Disability related to TBI to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs.

To view a copy of BIAA’s Comment Letter to the VA, please visit our website at http://www.biausa.org/policyissues.htm.

President Bush this week approved $3.7 billion in emergency funding for veterans health care which was deemed “contingency” spending in the fiscal 2008 omnibus appropriations bill passed in December.

This represents another significant step to improve health care for returning service members and veterans.

As a result of this additional funding, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ funding for fiscal 2008 totals $87.6 billion - $8 billion more than was provided in fiscal 2007.

The CDC is planning to launch the “Help Seniors Live Better, Longer: Prevent Brain Injury” initiative in March 2008 during Brain Injury Awareness Month. The CDC has also developed a new set of English and Spanish language materials for older adults and their caregivers. Each publication uses a concise question and answer format to provide older adults, and their family members and other caregivers with information they can use to take an active role in preventing, recognizing, and responding to TBI in older adults. These materials, along with a poster directing people to the CDC’s website for additional information will be available in early 2008.

Neuroscientists at the Uni-versity of California, Berkeley have, for the first time, measured the electrical activity of nerve cells and correlated it to changes in blood flow in response to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a noninvasive method to stimulate neurons in the brain. Continue Reading »