Brain Injury Association of America Legislative
Alert - May 9, 2008
Dear
Advocates:
Two weeks remain until Congress leaves for
Memorial Day recess, and legislative activity is
expected to center on efforts to pass a war
supplemental spending bill as well as potentially
achieving progress on a fiscal 2009 budget
conference report.
Several events and developments related to
traumatic brain injury took place this week in our
nation’s capital.
On Tuesday, the House Ways and Means Subcommittee
on Health held a hearing on the issue of
competitive bidding of durable medical equipment
under the Medicare Fee-For-Service program. As a
member of the Consortium for Citizens with
Disabilities (CCD), BIAA signed on to several
letters urging Congress to ensure that the
Medicare competitive bidding program does not
decrease access to and the quality of assistive
devices.
Also this week, Democrats included legislation
which would place a moratorium until March 2009 on
several harmful Medicaid regulations (H.R. 5613),
in the FY 2008 war supplemental appropriations
bill. BIAA continues to strongly endorse H.R. 5613
and supports efforts to keep the bill in the war
supplemental legislation as it moves towards final
passage, expected within the next two weeks.
In addition, BIAA Government Affairs Associate
Robert Demichelis attended “Brain Pacemakers: A
Promising Approach and a New Era of Hope for
Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders,” a
symposium on deep brain stimulation sponsored by
The Office on Disability, U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services and the Cleveland Clinic
Center for Neurological Restoration.
As a final note, BIAA continues to wait to see if
Congress will be able to agree on a budget this
year before sending out its Legislative Action
Alert on FY 2009 TBI Appropriations. In the
meantime, BIAA has signed on to a coalition letter
urging Appropriations Committee Chairs in both
chambers to allocate an additional $15 billion
over last year’s funding levels for the Labor-HHS-Education
Subcommittees.
*Distributed by Laura Schiebelhut, BIAA Director
of Government Affairs, on behalf of the Brain
Injury Association of America; 703-761-0750 ext.
637; lschiebelhut@biausa.org
The
Policy Corner is made possible by the Adam
Williams Initiative, Centre for Neuro Skills, and
Lakeview Healthcare Systems, Inc. The Brain Injury
Association of America gratefully acknowledges
their support for legislative action.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medicare Competitive Bidding Program Under
Congressional Scrutiny
On Tuesday, the House Ways and Means
Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on the issue
of competitive bidding of durable medical
equipment (DME) under the Medicare Fee-For-Service
program. As a member of the Consortium for
Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), as well as the
Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and
Medicaid (ITEM) Coalition, BIAA signed on to
several letters urging Congress to ensure that the
Medicare competitive bidding program does not
decrease access to and the quality of assistive
devices.
The competitive bidding program for durable
medical equipment, orthotics, prosthetics, and
supplies was enacted as part of the Medicare
Modernization Act of 2003, although the Centers
for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) is just
now beginning to implement the first round of the
program. The program is expected to lower Medicare
reimbursements to DME suppliers by 26 percent, and
disability rights organizations including are
concerned this will result in a decrease in the
quality of assistive devices and technologies,
which are essential to the consumer’s function
and independence.
The testimony given by Peter W. Thomas, Co-Chair
of CCD’s Health Task Force - as well as the
coalition letters BIAA recently signed on to -
call on Congress and the Administration to delay
implementation of the competitive bidding program
and/or initiate appropriate safeguards to ensure
that individuals with disabilities are not harmed
as a result of the program’s implementation.
Implementation of the first round of the program
is scheduled to begin on July 1, 2008.
To view a copy of the CCD and ITEM coalition
letters BIAA signed on to this week, please visit
our website Here
Legislation
to Delay Harmful Medicaid Regulations Added to War
Spending Bill
Also this week, Democrats included legislation
which would place a moratorium until March 2009 on
several harmful Medicaid regulations (H.R. 5613),
in the FY 2008 war supplemental appropriations
bill. BIAA continues to strongly endorse H.R. 5613
and supports efforts to keep the bill in the war
supplemental legislation as it moves towards final
passage, likely within the next two weeks.
According to CQ Today, by attaching H.R.
5613 to the war spending bill, Democrats hope to
avoid an extra set of cloture votes in the Senate,
where the Medicaid moratorium bill on its own had
been facing a GOP filibuster (Alex Wayne, CQ
Today, 5/6/2008).
The House of Representatives passed H.R. 5613 by a
veto-proof margin, 349-62, on April 23. Without a
moratorium, all seven of the regulations would go
into effect by June 30 of this year, including
regulations which would limit access to essential
services for individuals with brain injury.
Stay tuned to BIAA for further potential
Legislative Action Alerts on this issue in coming
weeks.
Symposium on Deep Brain Stimulation Held in
Washington, D.C.
On Tuesday, BIAA Government Affairs Associate
Robert Demichelis attended “Brain Pacemakers: A
Promising Approach and a New Era of Hope for
Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders,” a
symposium on deep brain stimulation sponsored by
The Office on Disability, U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services and the Cleveland Clinic
Center for Neurological Restoration.
The symposium featured a number of esteemed
speakers including Rep. Bill Pascrell, Co-Chair of
the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force and Dr.
Andrew C. von Eschenbach, Commissioner of the U.S.
Food & Drug Administration.
Symposium discussions focused on the emerging
applications and preliminary research findings in
the use of deep brain stimulation to treat
individuals with disabling neurological and
psychiatric disorders.
Initially developed for the treatment of movement
disorders, deep brain stimulation also has been
found to hold great potential for treating various
neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions as
well.
The
symposium specifically explored promising data and
emerging research regarding the benefit of deep
brain stimulation in the treatment of individuals
with movement disorders, epilepsy, psychiatric
disorders, and TBI, as well as the translation of
such research into treatment therapies.
Brain Injury Association of America Legislative
Alert - May 7, 2008
Dear
Advocates:
Urge Your Senator to Cosponsor The Caring for
Wounded Warriors Act of 2008
BIAA has strongly endorsed The Caring for
Wounded Warriors Act of 2008 (S. 2921),
legislation introduced on Monday, April 28 by
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton which would
increase support for family caregivers of
servicemembers with TBI. Several recommendations
made by BIAA during the legislative drafting
process were incorporated into the bill.
BIAA encourages you to urge your Senator to sign
on as a cosponsor of this important legislation.
The bill would require two pilot programs to
be implemented through the Department of Veterans
Affairs, improving the resources available to
those caring for returning servicemembers with TBI.
The first pilot program, which would provide for
training, certification and compensation for
family caregiver personal attendants for veterans
and members of the Armed Forces with TBI, is very
similar to a provision in last year’s Heroes At
Home Act of 2007, which BIAA also strongly
endorsed.
The second pilot program would leverage existing
partnerships between Veterans Affairs facilities
and the nation’s premier universities, training
graduate students to provide respite care for
families caring for wounded warriors suffering
from TBI.
To urge your Senator to become a cosponsor of S.
2921, click Here
Brain Injury Association of America Legislative
Alert - April 28, 2008
Dear
Advocates:
The Brain Injury Association of America has
just learned that President Bush signed
legislation to reauthorize the TBI Act this
afternoon: White
House Press Release
President
Bush Signs S. 793 into Law
On
Monday, April 28, 2008, the President signed into
law:
S.
793, the "Traumatic Brain Injury Act of
2008," which authorizes appropriations and
makes changes to the Department of Health and
Human Services programs that provide grants for
State programs for: tracking and reporting of
brain injuries; and brain injury rehabilitation.
Congratulations
to all BIAA state affiliates, advocates and
national stakeholders who worked to make this
happen!!!
Brain Injury Association of America Legislative
Alert - April 25, 2008
Dear
Advocates:
After legislation to reauthorize the
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Act successfully
passed Congress on April 10, the bill still needs
to be considered by the President for his
signature into law. BIAA anticipates this
consideration will occur within the next week, and
is closely monitoring the situation.
This week the House of Representatives passed by a
veto-proof margin H.R. 5613, important legislation
which would place a moratorium until March 2009 on
seven harmful Medicaid regulations issued by the
Department of Health and Human Services. BIAA
issued a Legislative Action Alert earlier this
week before the vote encouraging advocates to urge
their Representative to vote YES on the bill. The
fate of the bill is now up to the Senate.
Also this week, BIAA submitted written testimony
to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee in
charge of funding TBI programs within the
Department of Health and Human Services and the
Department of Education. BIAA’s testimony urges
an increase in funding in Fiscal Year 2009 for
programs authorized through the TBI Act, as well
as TBI research programs conducted within the
National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR).
In addition, a representative of BIAA was invited
to attend an event hosted by President George W.
Bush on Thursday, April 24, at the White House.
The inspiring event honored a group of wounded
warriors as they kicked off the Wounded Warrior
Project’s second annual “Soldier Ride: White
House to Light House Challenge.”
And lastly, BIAA was proud to sign on as a
supporter of the National Shaken Baby Syndrome
Awareness Week Resolution (S. Res. 518), which
passed the Senate on Monday. The Resolution,
introduced by Senator Dodd (D-CT), dedicates this
week (the week of April 21st through 25th) to
raise awareness of Shaken Baby Syndrome and to
ultimately eliminate its occurrence.
*Distributed by Laura Schiebelhut, BIAA Public
Affairs Manager, on behalf of the Brain Injury
Association of America; 703-761-0750 ext. 637; lschiebelhut@biausa.org
The Policy Corner is made possible by the
Adam Williams Initiative, Centre for Neuro Skills,
and Lakeview Healthcare Systems, Inc. The Brain
Injury Association of America gratefully
acknowledges their support for legislative action.
House Overwhelmingly Passes Bill to Delay Harmful
Medicaid Regulations
This week the House of Representatives passed
by a veto-proof margin H.R. 5613, important
legislation which would place a moratorium until
March 2009 on seven harmful Medicaid regulations
issued by the Department of Health and Human
Services. BIAA issued a Legislative Action Alert
earlier this week before the vote encouraging
advocates to urge their Representative to vote YES
on the bill. The fate of the bill is now up to the
Senate.
The legislation, which was originally introduced
on March 13, 2008, would delay the implementation
of seven harmful Medicaid regulations through
March 2009, including several rules which would be
especially deleterious to individuals with brain
injury.
One of these rules would limit rehabilitation
services for Medicaid beneficiaries, severely
curtailing the ability of people with disabilities
– including TBI – to receive rehabilitation
services now covered under Medicaid. Access to
these rehabilitative services is essential, as in
many cases, these services play a vital role in
allowing people with TBI to live independently in
the community.
As the House considered and passed H.R. 5613 by a
vote of 349-62 on Wednesday, Senate Republican
leadership began circulating a letter defending
the Medicaid regulations and urging colleagues to
reject such legislation in the Senate. According
to news sources, this letter forms part of a
Republican strategy to demonstrate to supporters
of H.R. 5613, through the gathering of a
sufficient number of signatures, that they will
not be able to override a veto in the Senate.
If enough Senators sign on to the Republican
leadership letter, effectively backing up the
president’s veto threat, there is speculation
that the White House could then offer a limited
moratorium on only two of the harmful regulations.
Unfortunately, these two regulations are not the
ones addressing targeted case management and
rehabilitative services, which stand to directly
impact individuals with brain injury. (CQ
Healthbeat News, April 24, 2008, John Reichard).
Without a moratorium, all seven of the regulations
would go into effect by June 30 of this year.
BIAA thanks advocates for contacting their
Representatives this week, and will shortly issue
another Legislative Alert anticipating Senate
action on the bill.
A copy of BIAA’s letter endorsing H.R. 5613 can
be obtained by visiting BIAA’s website: Here
BIAA Submits Testimony to Senate Appropriations
Subcommittee
Also this week, BIAA submitted written
testimony to the Senate Appropriations
Subcommittee in charge of funding TBI programs
within the Department of Health and Human Services
and the Department of Education. BIAA’s
testimony urges an increase in funding in Fiscal
Year 2009 for programs authorized through the TBI
Act, as well as TBI research programs conducted
within the National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR).
Within the testimony, BIAA requests $30 million in
funding for programs authorized through the TBI
Act, as well as sufficient funding to sustain and
increase medical rehabilitation research within
NIDRR. The testimony also urges an allocation of
at least $8.3 million to allow NIDRR to continue
to fund 16 TBI Model Systems research centers.
In addition, BIAA played a leading role, along
with other national organizations, in recent weeks
in drafting and circulating an organizational
sign-on letter in support of FY09 TBI
appropriations. The letter, which was signed by
over 25 organizations - including several veterans
organizations - was recently delivered to both the
House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on
Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.
Copies of both BIAA’s written testimony and the
Organizational Sign-On Letter in support of
appropriations for TBI programs can be obtained by
visiting BIAA’s website: Here
BIAA Roots On Servicemembers at Wounded Warrior
Soldier Ride White House Kickoff
A representative of BIAA was invited to attend
an event hosted by President George W. Bush on
Thursday at the White House. BIAA Government
Affairs Director Laura Schiebelhut was proud to be
part of the inspiring event, which honored a group
of wounded warriors as they kicked off the Wounded
Warrior Project’s second annual “Soldier Ride:
White House to Light House Challenge.”
Soldier Ride, sponsored by the Wounded Warrior
Project, is a rehabilitative cycling program for
wounded warriors, including individuals with brain
injury. For many of these combat-wounded veterans,
Soldier Ride provides the first steps in the
return to an active lifestyle.
BIAA Signs On In Support of National Shaken Baby
Syndrome Awareness Week Resolution
BIAA was proud to sign on as a supporter of
the National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week
Resolution (S. Res. 518), which passed the Senate
on Monday. The Resolution, introduced by Senator
Dodd (D-CT), dedicates this week (the week of
April 21st through 25th) to raise awareness of
Shaken Baby Syndrome and to ultimately eliminate
its occurrence.
BIAA was included as a supporter of the resolution
in Senator Dodd’s floor statement that was
submitted to the Congressional Record when it was
introduced on Thursday, April 16, 2008
Brain Injury Association of America Legislative
Alert - April 18, 2008
Dear
Advocates:
After legislation to reauthorize the Traumatic
Brain Injury (TBI) Act successfully passed
Congress last week, the bill still needs to be
considered by the President for his signature into
law. BIAA anticipates this consideration will
occur in the very near future.
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.
Also this week, The Rand Corporation published an
important comprehensive study of the mental health
and cognitive needs of U.S. servicemembers
returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. This
groundbreaking study - which focuses specifically
on the post-deployment health-related needs and
economic costs associated with post traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD), major depression and TBI -
estimates that 320,000 servicemembers may have
experienced TBI as a result of recent combat
operations.
*Distributed by Laura Schiebelhut, BIAA Public
Affairs Manager, on behalf of the Brain Injury
Association of America; 703-761-0750 ext. 637; lschiebelhut@biausa.org
The Policy Corner is made possible by the
Adam Williams Initiative, Centre for Neuro Skills,
and Lakeview Healthcare Systems, Inc. The Brain
Injury Association of America gratefully
acknowledges their support for legislative action.
Bill to Delay Harmful Medicaid Regulations
Advances Despite Veto Threat
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.
The legislation, which was originally introduced
on March 13, 2008, would delay the implementation
of seven harmful Medicaid regulations through
March 2009, including several rules which would be
especially deleterious to individuals with brain
injury.
One of these rules would limit rehabilitation
services for Medicaid beneficiaries, severely
curtailing the ability of people with disabilities
– including TBI – to receive rehabilitation
services now covered under Medicaid. Access to
these rehabilitative services is essential, as in
many cases, these services play a vital role in
allowing people with TBI to live independently in
the community.
Despite changes made through a Manager’s
Amendment last week at the Health Subcommittee
level in order to assuage Republican concerns
about the bill, the White House earlier this week
issued a veto threat against the bill.
However, according to an article published this
week in CQ Today, “During a break in the
markup, ranking Republican Joe L. Barton of Texas
said he did not think Republicans would vote to
sustain the veto threatened by the administration.
‘I don’t think the veto threat was
appropriate, and I don’t think it will be
successful if vetoed, because the votes simply
aren’t there,’ Barton said.” (CQ TodayPrint Edition – Health, 4/16/08, Drew
Armstrong).
If the House of Representatives is able to
successfully override a veto by the President, the
potential sticking point could be the Senate,
where it is unclear if a veto-proof margin exists
in favor of the bill.
Several of the regulations are set to go into
effect on May 25, so Rep. Dingell has indicated
that he will push for swift action on the bill by
the full House of Representatives. BIAA will
continue to monitor the progress of the bill and
strongly advocate for its successful passage.
A copy of BIAA’s letter endorsing H.R. 5613 can
be obtained by visiting BIAA’s website: Here
Groundbreaking Study on TBI Among Servicemembers
Issued by Rand Corporation
Also this week, The Rand Corporation published
an important comprehensive study of the mental
health and cognitive needs of U.S. servicemembers
returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. This
groundbreaking study - which focuses specifically
on the post-deployment health-related needs and
economic costs associated with post traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD), major depression and TBI -
estimates that 320,000 servicemembers may have
experienced TBI as a result of recent combat
operations.
The study is the first of its kind to consider
mental health and cognitive problems associated
with deployment to Afghanistan and Iraq from a
broad societal perspective. BIAA is working to
help disseminate the study’s findings to Members
of Congress.
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!!!
Passage of TBI Act reauthorization has been the number
one legislative priority of BIAA in 2008, and
much behind-the-scenes work with Members of
Congress and their staff has occurred in recent
weeks and months. In addition, BIAA grassroots
advocates played an essential role in moving this
legislation and ensuring that Congress passed it
THIS YEAR, so a huge THANK YOU to all of you who
contacted your Representatives and otherwise
worked to ensure the progress of this key
legislation.
Since the President has not threatened to veto
this bill, BIAA is not asking advocates to contact
the President at this time. Instead, BIAA will be
asking advocates to craft thank you notes to key
legislators in the near future. Of course, if you
do feel individually moved to contact the
President, you are welcome to do so.
More information on the TBI Act reauthorization
bill, and other key legislation, will be
forthcoming in today's Policy Corner E-Newsletter.
Brain Injury Association of America Legislative
Alert - April 5, 2008
TBI Act Reauthorization Expected on House Floor
This Tuesday, April 8, 2008!!!
Take
Action!
Urge
Your Representative to Vote Yes BIAA has just
learned that the TBI Act Reauthorization bill is
scheduled for consideration by the full House of
Representatives on Tuesday, April 8, 2008.
The
bill is due to be on the House floor Tuesday
afternoon around 2:30pm under suspension of the
rules, and will appear as S. 793 (the Senate
number of the bill).
Please
click on the "Take Action" link in the
upper right-hand corner of this email to urge your
Representative to vote YES on S. 793, and
reauthorize the TBI Act!!!
Brain Injury Association of America Legislative
Alert - April 4, 2008
Dear
Advocates:
This week BIAA submitted written testimony to the
House Appropriations Subcommittee in charge of
funding TBI programs within the Department of
Health and Human Services and the Department of
Education, urging an increase in Fiscal Year 2009
funding for TBI programs.
On Wednesday, April 2, the House Veterans Affairs
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held
a hearing on TBI Related Vision Issues, which
highlighted the high rate of vision disturbances
in cases of servicemembers returing from Iraq and
Afghanistan with TBI.
Also this week, the House Energy and Commerce
Committee held a hearing 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. BIAA has endorsed this legislation, and
signed a letter of support spearheaded by the
Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) in
favor of the legislation.
Unfortunately, no activity occurred this week on
H.R. 1418, the House version of legislation to
reauthorize the TBI Act, which was passed by the
House Energy and Commerce Act on March 13, 2008.
BIAA will continue to advocate strongly for floor
consideration of the bill by the entire House of
Representatives and full passage by Congress into
law as quickly as possible.
*Distributed by Laura Schiebelhut, BIAA Public
Affairs Manager, on behalf of the Brain Injury
Association of America; 703-761-0750 ext. 637; lschiebelhut@biausa.org
The Policy Corner is made possible by the Adam
Williams Initiative, Centre for Neuro Skills, and
Lakeview Healthcare Systems, Inc. The Brain Injury
Association of America gratefully acknowledges
their support for legislative action.
BIAA Submits Testimony to House Labor-HHS-Education
Appropriations Subcommittee
This week BIAA submitted written
testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee
in charge of funding TBI programs within the
Department of Health and Human Services and the
Department of Education. BIAA’s testimony urges
an increase in Fiscal Year 2009 funding for
programs authorized through the TBI Act, as well
as for TBI research programs conducted within the
National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR).
In the testimony, BIAA’s President and CEO Susan
H. Connors states, “BIAA was gravely
disappointed that last year, even as Congress had
the good judgment to add hundreds of millions
dollars to the budgets of the Department of
Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to
help address the problem of TBI among returning
servicemembers, funding for the HRSA Federal TBI
Program was reduced from $8.91 million to $8.754
million.”
Within the testimony, BIAA requests $30 million in
funding for programs authorized through the TBI
Act, as well as sufficient funding to sustain and
increase medical rehabilitation research within
NIDRR. The testimony also urges an allocation of
at least $8.3 million to allow NIDRR to continue
to fund 16 TBI Model Systems research centers.A
copy of the testimony can be obtained by visiting
BIAA’s website at the following address: http://www.biausa.org/policyissues.htm
House VA Subcommittee Holds Hearing on TBI And
Vision Problems
On
Wednesday, April 2, the House Veterans Affairs
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held
a hearing on TBI Related Vision Issues.
Testimony highlighted the high rate of vision
disturbances in cases of servicemembers returing
from Iraq and Afghanistan with TBI, and the need
for a seamless system of care within the
Department of Defense and Department of Veterans
Affairs to address these eye injuries, including
greater use of specialized vision screening.
In the hearing, the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA)
noted research showing that 75 percent of
servicemembers with documented TBI injuries also
have complaints about vision problems, and that
approximately 60 percent of those injured have
associated neurological visual disorders. A study
conducted by one of the panelists, Gregory L.
Goodrich, who is a research psychologist at the VA
Palo Alto Health Care System, found that both
Polytrauma Level I and Level II patients had high
rates of visual impairment and/or visual
dysfunction, and that injuries caused by a blast
event were associated with more vision related
loss and/or deficits than other causes.
In his testimony, Tom Zampieri, Director of
Government Relations at BVA, asserted, “At
present the current system of screening,
treatment, tracking, and follow-up care for TBI
vision dysfunction is inadequate. Adding visual
dysfunction to this complex mix, especially if
undiagnosed, makes attempts at rehabilitation even
more daunting and potentially disastrous unless
there are significant improvements soon.”
Mr. Zampieri urged the Subcommittee to request
that DoD/VA provide for the full implementation of
the “Military Eye Trauma Center of Excellence
and Eye Trauma Registry,” which was recently
authorized as one of the Wounded Warrior
provisions in last year’s defense authorization
bill (H.R. 4986). BIAA has officially endorsed
legislation (S. 1999) to create such a Center.
BIAA Supports Bill to Enact Moratorium on Harmful
Medicaid Regulations
Also this week, the House Energy and Commerce
Committee held a hearing 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. BIAA has endorsed this legislation, and
signed a letter of support spearheaded by the
Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) in
favor of the legislation.
The legislation, which was introduced by
Representatives John D. Dingell (D-MI) and Tim
Murphy (R-PA) on March 13, 2008, would delay the
implementation of seven harmful Medicaid
regulations through March 2009, including several
rules which would be especially deleterious to
individuals with traumatic brain injury.
One of these rules would limit rehabilitation
services for Medicaid beneficiaries, severely
curtailing the ability of people with disabilities
- including TBI - to receive rehabilitation
services now covered under Medicaid. Access to
these rehabilitative services is essential, as in
many cases, these services play a vital role in
allowing people with TBI to live independently in
the community.
Brain Injury Association of America Legislative
Alert - March 17, 2008
You Are Encouraged to Participate in NIDRR Conference Call THIS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2008
Recently,
the National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) appears to be
deemphasizing medical rehab research, including
valuable research related to TBI. BIAA is working
as part of a coalition of advocacy groups to send
NIDRR a message that resources for medical
rehabilitation research (referred to by NIDRR as
"health and function" research) needs to
be increased, not decreased. We need your help!
In the past six months, NIDRR has eliminated
funding for four Rehabilitation Research and
Training Centers (RTCs) focused on medical
rehabilitation research, including centers focused
on neuromuscular research, arthritis, TBI
community reintegration, and spinal cord
injury. Four additional medical rehab RTCs
(stroke, MS, aging with a disability, and
psychiatric aspects of disability) have been
delayed and NIDRR intends to announce these grants
with a greater focus on employment and vocational
rehab.
As an advocate for increased TBI services and
research, you are encouraged to join NIDRR's
national meeting/conference call on NIDRR's long
range plan scheduled for Wednesday, March 19th,
from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. and express your views.
The toll-free conference call number is (800)
762-6085. An operator will ask if you would like
to submit input or just listen to the event. The
operator will track the order of the people who
want to provide input.
(Note: There are other ways to submit
comments as well by the end of March if you cannot
make the call. Please contact Laura Schiebelhut,
BIAA's Director of Government Affairs, at lschiebelhut@biausa.org,
if you have questions.)
We suggest making some or all of the following
points:
1. NIDRR has served as the nation’s lead federal
agency on rehabilitation and disability research -
including valuable research on TBI - and as such
has maintained a broad portfolio of research as
reflected in its current Long-Range Plan. This
research portfolio includes three broad domains
designed to enhance the quality of life of persons
with disabilities in the areas of employment,
community living, and health and function,
including medical rehabilitation research.
2. This approach is to be commended as it
recognizes the critical interplay between medical
rehabilitation research, health and functioning,
and the ability to return to school or work where
appropriate.
3. A shift in focus at NIDRR away from health and
function research is unwise and seriously erodes
our nation's ability to solve the important
questions that confront people with disabilities
in seeking to return to functional and fulfilling
lives after the onset of a disabling condition.
4. NIDRR should continue and re-emphasize the
importance in its funding priorities of health and
function research, including medical rehab
research.
Please see the press release below for further
information. Thank you.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 4, 2008
NATIONAL VIDEOCONFERENCE AND WEBCAST TO SOLICIT
INPUT ON THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DISABILITY AND
REHABILITATION RESEARCH 2010-2014 LONG-RANGE PLAN
The National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) today announced a
national videoconference to solicit remarks
regarding NIDRR’s long-range plan for fiscal
years 2010-2014. The purpose of the
videoconference is to obtain ideas from the public
on the content and direction of the new NIDRR
long-range plan.
NIDRR, a component of the Office of Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services at the US
Department of Education, is the major federal
agency sponsoring disability research.
Videoconference: The videoconference will take
place: March 19, 2008
1 p.m. to 5 p.m. EST
There are several ways to participate:
· Attend in person at one of the eight sites
across the country;
· Access the meeting via webcast; or
· Participate in a toll-free teleconference.
To learn more about locations and methods of
participation and how to RSVP, please visit: http://www.neweditions.net/nidrrlrp/ Other Input Opportunities: If you are
unable to participate in the videoconference,
webcast or teleconference, there are several
alternate ways to submit comments through March
31, 2008.
Comments may be submitted via email, using
the following address: NIDRR-Maibox@ed.gov
or through the Web, using the following
address: http://www.neweditions.net/nidrrlrp/
or by mail:
Donna Nangle
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Room 6029
Washington, DC 20202-2700
Brain Injury Association of America Legislative
Alert - March 15, 2008
Dear
Advocates:
This week was an another extremely eventful one on
Capitol Hill, including passage of legislation to
reauthorize the TBI Act by the full House Energy
and Commerce Committee!
On Tuesday, the House Energy and Commerce
Committee's Subcommittee on Health approved the
Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008 (H.R. 1418) and
forwarded it on for consideration by the full
Committee.
Yesterday afternoon, the full Energy and Commerce
Committee passed the bill, and the legislation is
expected to be brought up on suspension for
consideration on the House floor when Congress
reconvenes after a two-week recess set to begin on
Monday, March 17.
Also this week, 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.
Please note that as Congress will be in recess for
the next two weeks, the next edition of Policy
Corner will be distributed on Friday, April 4. As
always, though, in the meantime, please continue
to watch your inboxes for BIAA News Flashes and
Legislative Action Alerts. *Distributed by Laura
Schiebelhut, BIAA Public Affairs Manager, on
behalf of the Brain Injury Association of America;
703-761-0750 ext. 637; lschiebelhut@biausa.org The Policy Corner is made possible by the Adam
Williams Initiative, Centre for Neuro Skills, and
Lakeview Healthcare Systems, Inc. The Brain Injury
Association of America gratefully acknowledges
their support for legislative action.
TBI Act Reauthorization Bill Passed by House
Energy and Commerce Committee
On Tuesday, the House Energy and Commerce
Committee's Subcommittee on Health approved the
Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008 (H.R. 1418) and
forwarded it on for consideration by the full
Committee.
Yesterday afternoon, the full Energy and Commerce
Committee passed the bill, and the legislation is
expected to be brought up on suspension for
consideration on the House floor when Congress
reconvenes after a two-week recess set to begin on
Monday, March 17.
The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA)
wishes to thank Rep. Pascrell, Rep. Platts, as
well as Rep. Pallone and Chairman Dingell, for
swiftly moving this bill forward. In addition,
BIAA enthusiastically thanks all of its grassroots
advocates for both longstanding and recent efforts
to support timely reauthorization of the TBI Act!
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.
Brain Injury Awareness Day Held on Capitol Hill
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 HERE
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.
Brain
Injury Association of America Legislative Alert -
March 13, 2008
BIAA
News Flash - TBI Act Reauthorization Bill Passed
By Full House Energy and Commerce Committee!!!
This afternoon, the full House Energy and Commerce
Committee passed H.R. 1418, legislation to
reauthorize the Traumatic Brain Injury Act.
Earlier this week, the Energy and Commerce
Committee's Subcommittee on Health approved the
Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008 and forwarded
it on for consideration by the full Committee. Now
that the full Committee has passed the bill, the
legislation is expected to be brought up on
suspension for consideration on the House floor
when Congress reconvenes after a two-week recess,
which will begin on Monday.
The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA)
wishes to thank Rep. Pascrell, Rep. Platts, as
well as Rep. Pallone and Chairman Dingell, for
swiftly moving this bill forward. In addition,
BIAA enthusiastically thanks all of its grassroots
advocates for both longstanding and recent efforts
to support timely reauthorization of the TBI Act!
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.
Brain
Injury Association of America Legislative Alert -
March 11, 2008
BIAA
News Flash - TBI Act Reauthorization Bill Approved
by House Energy and Commerce Health
Subcommittee!!!
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.
Brain
Injury Association of America Legislative Alert -
March 9, 2008
Updated Information for Brain Injury Awareness Day
on Capitol HillTake
Action
Urge Your Members of Congress to Attend!
Please note the updated logistical information
(below) for Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol
Hill, taking place this Wednesday, March 12, 2008
in Washington, D.C.
In addition, please click on the "Take
Action" tab in the upper right hand corner of
this email to call your representatives in
Congress and urge them to attend at least one of
the day's events!
Congressional Brain Injury Awareness Day
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Capitol Hill – Washington, D.C.
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.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Brain Injury Awareness Fair 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
First Floor Foyer of the Rayburn House Office
Building
Advocacy Training Session
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
1116 Longworth House Office Building
Congressional Briefing on “Traumatic Brain
Injury and Community Needs” 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
H-137 United States Capitol Building
Congressional Reception Celebrating Brain Injury
Awareness Day
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
1100 Longworth House Office Building
*Reception sponsored by 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).
Brain
Injury Association of America Legislative Alert
– March 7, 2008
Dear Advocates:
This week was an eventful one on Capitol Hill,
including a long-awaited breakthrough on
legislation to reauthorize the TBI Act.
On Wednesday, March 5, the House Committee on
Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee announced
its plans to markup the Reauthorization of the
Traumatic Brain Injury Act (H.R. 1418) the
following day, on Thursday, March 6. Although the
markup session was ultimately stalled (see below
for more information), this development still
marks very positive progress towards the goal of
getting the TBI Act reauthorized before the end of
this year, a leading BIAA policy priority.
Also this week, the House of Representatives
passed H.R. 1424, mental health parity legislation
sponsored by Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) which
would require health insurers to offer mental
health benefits equal in cost and scope to medical
and surgical benefits. BIAA issued an enthusiastic
letter of endorsement for the bill shortly before
it was considered on the House floor.
Looking ahead to next week, the fiscal 2009 budget
resolutions are expected to be the focal point of
legislative activity in both the House and Senate,
as both chambers will consider their respective
budget plans before adjourning for the two-week
spring recess which begins on March 17. Of course,
next week will also include multiple TBI advocacy
and awareness activities on Wednesday, March 12,
as part of Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol
Hill.
*Distributed by Laura Schiebelhut, BIAA Public
Affairs Manager, on behalf of the Brain Injury
Association of America; 703-761-0750 ext.
637 lschiebelhut@biausa.org The Policy Corner is made possible by the Adam
Williams Initiative, Centre for Neuro Skills, and
Lakeview Healthcare Systems, Inc. The Brain Injury
Association of America gratefully acknowledges
their support for legislative action.
TBI
Act Reauthorization Scheduled for Markup in House
Committee
On
Wednesday, March 5, the House Committee on Energy
and Commerce Health Subcommittee announced its
plans to markup the Reauthorization of the
Traumatic Brain Injury Act (H.R. 1418) the
following day, on Thursday, March 6. This
development marks very positive progress towards
the goal of getting the TBI Act reauthorized
before the end of this year, a leading BIAA policy
priority. BIAA Government Affairs Director Laura
Schiebelhut attended the markup session yesterday,
in anticipation of expected approval of the TBI
Act reauthorization bill. Unfortunately, the TBI
Act reauthorization bill was listed as the last of
eight total bills to be considered during the
markup, and the Subcommittee got stalled in its
attempt to approve the first bill, which pertained
to tobacco regulations.
The markup session has now been rescheduled for
Tuesday, March 11.
BIAA will provide news and grassroots action
alerts as developments warrant, but for now, no
further grassroots activity is necessary.
House Passes Mental Health Parity Bill Endorsed by
BIAA
Also this week, the House of Representatives
passed H.R. 1424, mental health parity legislation
sponsored by Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) which
would require health insurers to offer mental
health benefits equal in cost and scope to medical
and surgical benefits. BIAA issued an enthusiastic
letter of endorsement for the bill shortly before
it was considered on the House floor.
NOTE: This letter will be publicly available
shortly on BIAA’s website HERE
In its endorsement letter, BIAA urged passage of
the bill, noting that, “An intricate and
intertwined relationship exists between substance
abuse, mental health, and traumatic brain injury (TBI)…
TBI is one of the most common and tragic
consequences of substance abuse, especially by
teenagers and young adults. In addition,
neurobehavioral problems commonly arise as a
direct result of TBI, and psychotherapeutic
services are integral to successful
neurorehabilitation programs.”
The outlook for ultimate passage of the bill this
year is unclear at this time, as Congressional
Quarterly (CQ) News reported on March 5, 2008,
“[H.R. 1424] now goes to the Senate, where it
will have to overcome a strongly worded White
House statement opposing it and warnings from key
senators that the Senate prefers its version [S.
558] and will not conference the issue.”
The Senate version of the bill is generally viewed
as the “weaker” bill in terms of requirements
on insurers, and has the support of business and
insurance lobbies, who oppose the House bill.
Unlike the Senate bill, the House bill would
require insurers to cover a broad variety of
mental health conditions.
As things move forward, BIAA will continue to
enthusiastically support the stronger House
version of the bill.
House and Senate Budget Committees Approve Fiscal
2009 Budget Resolutions
The House and Senate Budget Committees both
passed fiscal 2009 budget resolutions this week
which would provide significant increases for
health discretionary programs.
In its markup on Wednesday, the House Budget
Committee provided a $4.4 billion increase in
health discretionary programs. On Thursday, the
Senate Budget Committee provided an even higher
$5.27 billion increase for such programs in its
budget resolution. These increases represent a
good sign for health program funding in this year’s
budget and appropriations cycle. Earlier this
year, BIAA joined nearly 450 other health advocacy
organizations in signing on to a letter to
Congress urging a $5.3 billion increase over the
level provided last year.
Next week, these fiscal 2009 budget resolutions
are expected to be the focal point of legislative
activity on the floors of both the House and
Senate, as both chambers will consider their
respective budget plans before adjourning for the
two-week spring recess which begins on March 17.
Note: The budget resolution is non-binding, and
represents the first step in the year-long
budgeting and appropriations process. The next
steps will be to pass the budget resolution –
which can often present a challenge in the Senate
– and then to work to ensure that the Labor-HHS-Education
Appropriations Subcommittee receives an allocation
reflecting the health community’s
recommendation. Meanwhile, BIAA continues to
actively advocate for increased funding for TBI
programs within the ultimate fiscal 2009 Labor-HHS-Education
Appropriations Subcommittee bill.
