Policy Corner: February 18, 2022

Congress Sends CR to President to Continue Federal Funding

The Senate approved a stopgap measure, known as a Continuing Resolution (CR), to fund the federal government through March 11. The stopgap measure prevented a shutdown that would have happened had funding not been extended. The measure now heads to President Biden’s desk, where his signature will give lawmakers about three weeks to reach a deal for spending bills. Since Oct. 1, the beginning of the federal fiscal year, federal government has been level funded, meaning programs have received funding based on the previous year which is also the previous administration’s funding recommendations. Organizations have been sending letters to House and Senate appropriators and leadership to move appropriation bills and, in general, to accept the recommendations of a House-passed omnibus bill in July which contains increases in disability programs. The House recommendations included increased funding for TBI Act authorized programs and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Increase Funding for Early Childhood Education

Reps. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.), Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), and Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), and Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) introduced the Funding Early Childhood is the Right IDEA Act, H.R. 6532 and S.3544. The purpose is to increase funding for Section 619 Grants to states for preschool programs serving children with disabilities age three to five and Part C, which funds grants to states to support implementing early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. Both programs are authorized by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Schakowsky Introduces Bill to Eliminate Estate Recovery to Protect Assets of People with Disabilities

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) has recently introduced the Stop Unfair Medicaid Recoveries Act of 2022, H.R. 6698, to eliminate estate recovery in order to protect the assets of people with disabilities and older adults who are deceased and were Medicaid beneficiaries. The bill amends provisions that allow Medicaid to recover medical costs and costs of long terms services and supports of individuals who are age 55 or older. Since 1993, estate recovery has been mandatory for states to recover funds expended for individuals expected to be permanently institutionalized; those age 55 or older when they received Medicaid LTSS and related services; and those with long-term care insurance policies, under certain circumstances. This often puts undue burden on families who may lose their homes and other assets in order to repay costs expended.

Save the Dates: Brain Injury Awareness Month Briefings and Webinars

Brain Injury Awareness Month is right around the corner. Several organizations and federal agencies are hosting virtual events to raise awareness of brain injury.

• Brain Injury Awareness Day Hosted by the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force

The Congressional Brain Injury Task Force (CBITF) Brain Injury Awareness Day Briefing will be held virtually on the afternoon of March 16. CBITF co-chairs, Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-N.J.) and Don Bacon (R-Neb.) will kick off the Briefing which will feature U.S. Representatives and Senators who will discuss current proposed legislation impacting brain injury and how, as advocates, we can help promote the interests of brain injury. Click here to register.

• Administration for Community Living Virtual TBI Stakeholder Day

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) will host a virtual webinar March 8 from 12-4:30 p.m. (ET). This year’s sessions will feature Survivor Engagement Strategies, Domestic Violence and the Effect on Children, Effective Partnerships with Behavioral Health with a Focus on Suicide, and Effective Strategies for Using and Leveraging Data. Issues of equity and intersectionality will be woven into each session. Additionally, participants will also hear from leaders at ACL, and other federal partners engaged in efforts to promote and educate communities on the challenges surrounding this field and the promising practices and initiatives occurring at the national level. ACL is in the process of finalizing the agenda. Click here to register.

Sessions will be live-captioned and ASL-interpreted. If you require additional accommodations to participate or if you have any questions about the sessions, please contact tbitarc@hsri.org.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Webinar: Where Americans Live Impacts Their Change of a TBI-Related Death

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will hold a webinar, “Where Americans Live Impacts Their Chance of a TBI-Related Death,” March 7 at 2 p.m. (ET). CDC’s Dr. Jill Daugherty will share findings from recent CDC reports about the impacts of where Americans live on their chance of a TBI-related death. She will also explore how other sociodemographic factors result in differences in TBI care and outcomes and why better surveillance and programmatic efforts may be needed to bridge these gaps. Click here to register.

BIAA gratefully acknowledges the Centre for Neuro Skills and Avanir Pharmaceuticals for their support for legislative action. Click here to read past issues of Policy Corner.