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BIAA Health Care Reform Update

More posts by BIAAGrassroots 2/1/2010 1:51:00 PM

After the devastating Massachusetts special election, House and Senate leaders are expected to resume negotiations this week to attempt to finish the health care overhaul. Although a clear path is still unknown, BIAA will continue to monitor the situation closely. A big thank you to all of our grassroots advocates who answered the call last week to urge members of Congress to push forward on Health Care Reform!

State Concussion Legislation

Following the extraordinary success of BIA of Washington and BIA of Oregon in the adoption of state level sports concussion legislation, BIAA, in partnership with the Sports Legacy Institute, has become committed to encouraging, and assisting wherever possible, the enactment of sports concussion legislation in all states.

BIAA has developed a sample piece of legislation based on current laws and pending bills that exist throughout the country. This model legislation along with a sample testimony for use in state concussion hearings, distributed on January 25, 2010 to BIAA’s state affiliates, is a step foward in facilitating action in each state.

Due to the increased visibility of sports concussions within the National Football League in recent weeks, BIAA is encouraged that all states will be able to tip the scales in favor of protecting our youth athletes.

Brain Injury Awareness Day 2010

This year’s Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol Hill is set to take place on March, 17, 2010. BIAA will be unveiling our 2010 legislative agenda and encouraging the grassroots community along with state affiliates to participate in advocating for increased TBI Act appropriations, increased access to care, federal and state level concussion legislation, increased TBI research, military coverage of cognitive rehabilitation and caregiver assistance.

All issues mentioned will be outlined in fact sheets that advocates will receive that day and can use as reference during congressional visits and may leave behind for review by congressional staff.

Below is the schedule of events for the day:

10:00 AM – 1:00 PM - Brain Injury Awareness Fair, First Floor Foyer of the Rayburn House Office Building
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM - Briefing: “From the Playground to the Pros: A Heads-Up on Concussion”, Capitol Visitors Center – Congressional Meeting Room South
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM - Reception Celebrating Brain Injury Awareness Month, First Floor Foyer of the Rayburn House Office Building

The Policy Corner is made possible by the Centre for Neuro Skills, James F. Humphreys and Associates, and Lakeview. Brain Injury Association of America gratefully acknowledges their support for legislative action.b

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Tags: brain injury association of america, brain injury, traumatic brain injury, health reform, health care reform, concussion legislation, state concussion legislation, sports concussion legislation, brain injury awareness day, brain injury awareness fair

Thank Dateline NBC for Bringing Attention to Brain Injury Challenges

More posts by BIAAGrassroots 1/29/2010 2:07:00 PM

Health care reform at the federal level is officially on hold. Republican Scott Brown gained the Massachusetts seat vacated by the death of Edward Kennedy, thereby breaking the 60-vote majority in the Senate. Democrats met privately in the days following the Massachusetts special election but were unable to cultivate a strategy for moving forward at this time. A six‐week break is planned, and it is likely policymakers will be forced to accept a substantially scaled‐back package or abandon health care reform altogether.

The Brain Injury Association of America is deeply disappointed. Through our partnership with the Brain Injury Business & Professional Council, we made important gains in the proposed legislation. We cannot forgo this progress; we cannot quit now. We will continue to fight for access to the full continuum of brain injury treatment.

On January 24, 2010, Dateline NBC aired the compelling story of Patrick Gannon, a man who battled a severe anoxic brain injury and was then forced to wage war against his insurance company. The Dateline story accurately portrays how the health care system victimizes patients and families when they are most vulnerable.

I urge brain injury advocates everywhere to watch Patrick’s story and then write to Ann Curry, Dateline correspondent, to thank her for bringing national attention to the extraordinary challenges individuals with brain injury and their families face. I urge advocates to share their own stories with Ms. Curry and ask that she continue to educate the public about the rehabilitation needs of people with brain injury after their lives have been saved. Please address your letters to:

Ms. Ann Curry
Dateline / NBC News
30 Rockefeller Center, Studio 3B
New York, NY 10012

E-mail: Dateline@NBCUNI.com

Once you’ve written your letter (and sent copies to your legislators and BIAA), I ask that you share the Dateline story with friends and neighbors and that you encourage them to spread the story to others. With your help, we can tell the public that a brain injury can happen to anyone at anytime and that having insurance doesn’t mean you’re covered!

Very truly yours,

Susan H. Connors
President/CEO

Please send copies of your letters to your state and federal legislators and to me at BIAA’s address!

Brain Injury Association of America

1608 Spring Hill Road, Suite 110
Vienna, VA 22182

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Tags: brain injury, dateline nbc, dateline, patrick gannon, brain injury association, biaa