Brain Injury Blog | Traumatic Brain Injury TBI

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 »

For the third consecutive year, the Bakersfield Condors Hockey Team provided a venue for the California Brain Injury Association to raise awareness of Brain Injury, and provide valuable information to the public. With over 6,000 people in attendance at the March 14th game, CALBIA was able to reach out to a number of people, many of which were children and seniors. Continue Reading »

It is an historic time at the State Capitol. The 2007-2008 Legislative Session is all but over, with one huge exception: The Legislature approving a State Budget! On August 31 the Legislature completed its final business on thousands of bills introduced and acted on during the 2007-2008 Session. Due to the horrific fiscal state the State of California is in, thousands of bills were defeated due to the fiscal crisis and lack of funds. 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 »

Also of note this week was the Department of Veterans Affairs’ publication of a Final Rule to revise the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities to provide detailed and updated criteria for evaluating residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Continue Reading »

In response to the fact that no single Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 appropriations bill has been enacted this year, the House passed on Wednesday 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. Continue Reading »