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California Department of Mental Health - TBI Report is now available on line at: Dear Advocates, We are so pleased to bring you this announcement. On August 10, 2010, the House of Representatives voted to provide $16.1 billion to extend increased Medicaid aid to states. A special thank you to all of our grassroots advocates that took action on this issue, it has been a long road but a great victory! The US House of Representatives and the US Senate are on recess until September 10. This presents an excellent opportunity for you and other advocates to meet with your Representative and Senators to discuss the importance of funding for brain injury programs while they are in their home districts. Before adjourning, the Senate Appropriations Committee marked up the FY 2011 spending bill for the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and recommended level funding for the HRSA Federal TBI Program -- same as the current fiscal year and also what the President has recommended. With regard to the Department of Education the Senate Committee did recommend a slight increase ($2.7 million) for the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) programs for research, demonstration projects and related activities. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education-Related Agencies also marked up the spending bill for these agencies. However, their recommendations have not been released. The full Appropriations Committee will not meet until after recess, possibility not until after the November elections. This means that advocates still have a chance to impact TBI funding. As there continues to be discussion around reducing the overall federal budget, including reductions in discretionary spending, it is critical that TBI advocates continue to push for funding. Below is further information on appropriations, as well as suggestions for meeting with Members of Congress. Why your contact is necessary. The President has called for level funding for FY 2011 for the HRSA TBI Act Program -- same amount as this year, which is close to $10 million for both the State Grant and P&A Grant Programs. Less than half of States currently receive funding. In this crucial time of State budget cuts it is even more urgent that funding be available for all States, Territories and District of Columbia to address the increasing number of Americans with disabilities due to brain injuries, especially among the elderly and among the military who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Increased funding for each TBI model systems research center is needed to maintain the quality of the longitudinal research and expand the scope of intervention studies. The HRSA TBI program is the only federal program helping states to develop and improve services desperately needed by individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their families. It also provides funding to Protection & Advocacy Systems to help individuals to access these systems through advocacy; as well as funding for needed data, prevention and public education programs administered by CDC. The TBI Model Systems is the only systematic program of research studying the immediate and life long rehabilitation needs of youth and adults who have incurred more severe TBI. All of these programs are critical to plan and improve service delivery for an ever increasing number of citizens with disabilities as the result of TBI. NASHIA and TBI Stakeholders Recommends:
-- $8 million for the HRSA TBI State Grant Program to increase the number of State Grants;
-- $4 million for the PATBI Grant Program to increase advocacy for TBI; States have done enormous work with this funding! Since 1997, 48 States, two Territories and the District of Columbia have received time-limited grants. States have created advisory councils, designated lead agencies, conducted needs assessments and developed state action plans for improving services across multiple systems. Through these efforts, States have leveraged other State and Federal funding to address a variety of critical needs resulting in expanded services and supports for individuals of all ages, regardless of cause of injury. These services include information and referral services, service coordination, rehabilitation, education, family supports and other services necessary for individuals with traumatic brain injury to return to work, school and home -- thereby avoiding unnecessary institutionalization or costly out-of-State placement. States have expanded populations to serve children, victims of domestic violence, individuals who are homeless, persons with co-concurring conditions, and veterans and returning service members. |
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