Brain Injury Blog | Traumatic Brain Injury TBI

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 to raise awareness of brain injury during the month of March, which is Brain Injury Awareness Month. Approximately One hundred and fifty attendees were treated to traditional Greek hors d’oeuvres, Tiropites and Spanikopita, followed by a delicious Greek Dinner prepared by Thank Goodness Its Sophia Catering. Continue Reading »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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.

Over the weekend, the Senate also passed this legislation and it is expected to be signed into law by the President imminently. Continue Reading »

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 »

BIAA joined several other TBI stakeholders this week in circulating organizational sign-on letters to gather support from other advocacy groups in urging key appropriators to provide increased funding for federal TBI programs. Continue Reading »

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 »

The Brain Injury Association of America submitted formal testimony at a hearing held this week by the House Veterans Affairs Health Subcommittee.  The hearing was held on Tuesday, September 9, and focused on several pieces of legislation, including H.R. 3051, The Heroes At Home Act of 2007, which BIAA has strongly endorsed. Continue Reading »

Congress also made progress on a major disability rights bill, as both the House Education and Labor Committee and the House Judiciary Committee marked up and approved the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (H.R. 3195). This measure is designed to counter the last decade of Supreme and lower court decisions which have excluded large groups of people with disabilities from receiving employment protections included in the original Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was enacted in 1990. Continue Reading »