Aug 06 2008
On behalf of the Brain Injury Association of America, I am thrilled to announce that yesterday a group of United States Senators, led by Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Barack Obama (D-IL), sent a letter to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates calling on him to enact official coverage of cognitive rehabilitation within the military’s TRICARE health insurance program. Continue Reading »
Jul 25 2008
As the anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act approaches tomorrow, July 26, 2008, BIAA continues to advocate, as part of a broad coalition of groups, urging Congress to pass the ADA Amendments Act (H.R. 3195) this year, and has just signed on to a coalition letter urging Senators to swiftly pass the bill. Continue Reading »
Jul 25 2008
BIAA has issued a Legislative Action Alert requesting that advocates call their Senators and urge them to vote for passage of the Addressing America’s Priorities Act (S. 3297). Continue Reading »
Jul 25 2008
Despite little progress on appropriations so far this year, the House of Representatives does plan on bringing the Fiscal 2009 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs spending bill to the floor next week. This will be the first regular Fiscal 2009 appropriations bill to receive House floor consideration this session, and could also be one of the last. Continue Reading »
Jul 25 2008
Take Action!
Call Your Senators TODAY
Earlier this week, Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) introduced the Advancing America’s Priorities Act (S. 3297), an omnibus bill that combines nearly three dozen non-controversial, bipartisan measures which have been blocked from full Senate consideration due to objections from Oklahoma Republican Senator Tom Coburn. Continue Reading »
Jul 22 2008
BIAA issued a Legislative Action Alert this week urging both presidential candidates to attend the 2008 Fort Hood Presidential Town Hall and engage in an in-depth discussion of the increasingly complex issues facing America’s military and veterans community, including the rate of traumatic brain injury among returning service members. BIAA is a member of the 2008 Fort Hood Presidential Town Hall Consortium, and the event is tentatively scheduled to occur on August 11, 2008. Continue Reading »
Jul 22 2008
Also this week, although appropriations activity remains stalled in the House, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved its version of the fiscal 2009 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs spending bill, containing increased funding for medical research, including TBI research.
The bill allocates $526.8 million for medical research targeted to the veteran population, including research into mental health, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury, polytraumatic physical activities and sensory abilities, such as hearing and vision loss. Continue Reading »
Jul 22 2008
In a welcome development on Tuesday, Congress successfully overrode the president’s veto of key Medicare legislation (H.R. 6331). The bill, which will now become law, prevents deep cuts in Medicare payment rates to physicians, replacing a 10.6 percent cut to Medicare’s physician payment rates with 18 months of stable payments.
This vital legislation also contains an 18-month delay in implementation of Medicare’s competitive bidding program for Durable Medical Equipment (DME), as well as an 18-month extension of the Medicare outpatient therapy cap exceptions process. Both of these provisions are vitally important to many individuals with brain injury who rely on Medicare in order to receive health care and rehabilitative services. Continue Reading »
Jul 22 2008
On Wednesday, July 8, 2008, by a vote of 69-30, the Senate approved Medicare legislation (H.R. 6331) to prevent a 10.6% payment cut to physicians. In addition to preventing harmful payment cuts to physicians, this Medicare bill includes other important provisions which would improve care for individuals with brain injury.
These critical provisions include an 18-month extension of the Medicare outpatient therapy caps exceptions process, a component of the bill strongly supported by advocates working to improve access to vital rehabilitation therapies for individuals with brain injury. Continue Reading »
Jul 22 2008
Town Hall Would Facilitate Discussion of Issues Facing America’s Military and Veteran Community, Including Traumatic Brain Injury
The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) recently joined a consortium of non-profit organizations dedicated to serving active military, veterans, their families and their survivors, in inviting the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates to Fort Hood, Texas, for an in-depth discussion of the increasingly complex issues facing America’s military and veteran community. The CBS television network has agreed to produce and broadcast the very important Town Hall meeting in prime time on Monday, August 11, 2008. Continue Reading »
