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 »

It started out as a challenge by CALBIA Board Chairman, Dr. Mark Ashley, but turned into reality on Saturday, March 29, 2008. The California Brain Injury Association (CALBIA) hosted the 1st Annual Statewide Walk For Thought in Bakersfield, Sacramento, and San Diego, while the Brainstorming 4 Us Support Group in Victorville hosted a walk of their own. With only 3 ½ months to plan the event, site coordinators and volunteers worked diligently to achieve the goal of CALBIA – to raise awareness statewide about brain injury. 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 »

In late breaking news from the United States Capitol, Congress has just approved a $700 billion financial bailout package, which also includes landmark mental health parity legislation (H.R. 1424/S. 558) and dozens of expiring tax breaks for businesses and individuals. 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 »

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 »

Also on Wednesday, the House Committee on Veterans Affairs approved H.R. 2818, legislation endorsed by BIAA which would establish Epilepsy Centers of Excellence within the VA. Last week, the Senate passed its version of the legislation as part of a package of veterans’ mental health bills. Continue Reading »