Oct 08 2008
While attending one of the California Brain Injury Association’s Caregiver Conferences in San Jose in August of 2007, Member Rachel Michelberg decided that she wanted to make a contribution to CALBIA by organizing a musical fundraising event. Continue Reading »
Oct 08 2008
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 Outpatient Clinic and Hospital Services Rule,” and it would reduce federal Medicaid funding to states for freestanding health clinics and hospital outpatient departments. Continue Reading »
Oct 08 2008
Within the past few days, Congress also passed the FY 2009 defense authorization bill (S. 3001). This legislation contains a “Sense of Congress on TBI Research.” Specifically, the bill states in Sec. 725: Continue Reading »
Oct 08 2008
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.
Over the weekend, the Senate also passed this omnibus legislative package and forwarded it to President Bush, who signed it into law just hours before the beginning of the new fiscal year on October 1. Continue Reading »
Sep 22 2008
On Thursday, September 18, the House of Representatives passed, and cleared for the President’s expected signature, The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (S. 3406). This legislation to clarify and update the Americans with Disabilities Act has been widely supported by disability advocacy organizations, including BIAA. Continue Reading »
Sep 22 2008
On Tuesday, September 16, the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force held a well-attended briefing featuring a presentation by BIA of Oklahoma Vice President Michael Paul Mason, a brain injury case manager and author of Head Cases: Stories of Brain Injury and Its Aftermath. Continue Reading »
Sep 22 2008
This week, the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) and Rep. Todd Platts (R-PA) sent a letter, signed by over 60 House members from both parties, to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates urging TRICARE coverage of cognitive rehabilitation. Continue Reading »
Jul 14 2008
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 »
Jun 30 2008
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 »
Jun 16 2008
Late this week, Fiscal 2009 302(b) Appropriations Subcommittee Allocations were announced, including an allocation of $153.1 billion for the Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, which funds multiple TBI-related programs, including programs authorized through the TBI Act. Continue Reading »
