BIAA Update
Sarah D'Orsie of the Brain Injury Association of America provides the following update:
Brain Injury Association of America
Policy Corner E-Newsletter -- July 10, 2009
A weekly update on federal policy activity related to traumatic brain injury
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In This Issue:
Appropriations Update
Health Care Reform Update
Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Authorization
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The Policy Corner is made possible by the Centre for Neuro Skills, James F. Humphreys and Associates, and Lakeview Healthcare Systems, Inc. Brain Injury Association of America gratefully acknowledges their support for legislative action.
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Appropriations Update
Today, July 10, 2009, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education will begin considering the Fiscal Year 2010 spending bill that will provide the funding allocation for programs authorized through the TBI Act and for NIDRR's TBI-related research programs, including TBI Model Systems of Care.
BIAA and other stakeholders authored a letter that was circulated today on Capitol Hill urging increased funding for TBI programs. Specifically:
• $11 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention TBI Registries and Surveillance, Prevention and National Public Education/Awareness
• $20 million for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Federal TBI State Grant Program
• $6 million for the HRSA Federal TBI Protection & Advocacy (P&A) Systems Grant Program
• 13.3 million for NIDRR's TBI Model Systems of Care Program
For further reading, a copy of the letter can be found on our web site by clicking on the following link:
http://www.biausa.org/elements/policy/2009/tbi_act_appropriations_2010_support_letter.pdf
If you would like to take action and encourage your Congressman to support increased funding for TBI programs, click on the link below to be directed to our legislative action center!
http://capwiz.com/bia/home/
BIAA will continue to monitor the Appropriations proceedings and alert grassroots advocates to take action when needed.
Health Care Reform Update
This week the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee has been continuing to consider its version of the health care overhaul, while the Finance Committee has yet to begin formal markups, but continues to discuss policy behind closed doors.
In the House, The chairmen of the Energy and Commerce, Education and Labor, and Ways and Means Committees are working on a final draft of a bill that could be released at any time. The House committees plan to mark up the legislation next week.
On July 2, 2009, BIAA circulated comments to the House Committees of Jurisdiction applauding their "efforts to design health care reform that will improve the accessibility, quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of patient care."
More specifically, the comments expressed BIAA's support of the protections and standards for qualified health plans included in the draft, such as no imposition of pre-existing condition exclusions, guaranteed access to essential benefits (including rehabilitation services), guaranteed issue and renewal, adequacy of provider networks, limits on cost sharing, no annual or lifetime limits on coverage, and consumer protections.
To see a full copy of the comments, click on the following link:
http://www.biausa.org/elements/policy/2009/biaa_house_tri_committee_health_reform_comments.pdf
BIAA will continue to follow the health care reform considerations carefully and advocate on behalf of the brain injury community.
Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Authorization
Next week the 2010 Defense Authorization bill is expected to dominate debate on the Senate floor. The bill was reported as an original bill by the Senate Armed Services Committee on June 2, 2009.
It is important to note that BIAA's cognitive rehabilitation position paper (http://www.biausa.org/elements/media/biaa_cog_rehab_position_statement_2007.pdf) was referenced in the official Committee Report that was released last week as saying, "The committee notes that the Brain Injury Association of America has recognized the benefits of cognitive rehabilitation therapy for brain injuries, and that there is a growing body of scientific evidence to support its efficacy."
BIAA will continue to watch the bill as it is considered next week and advocate for the inclusion of cognitive rehabilitation within TRICARE coverage for returning service members.
