Policy Corner: March 16, 2018

Representative Dies of Falls-Related Concussion

Today, Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (D-N.Y.) died as the result of a fall that took place last week. She had since been hospitalized for a concussion. She was 88 and the oldest member of Congress, which serves as a reminder that falls are the leading cause of TBI hospitalizations and leading cause of brain injury among persons aged 65 years and older. Among Rep. Slaughter’s many accomplishments, she co-authored the Violence Against Women Act.

House Passes STOP School Violence Act

This week, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4909, the STOP School Violence Act of 2018, which amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to revise and reauthorize through fiscal year 2028 the Secure Our Schools grant program. The bill authorizes grants for schools to implement safety protocols and training, as well as the development and operation of anonymous reporting systems for threats of school violence. Rep. John H. Rutherford (R-Fla.) sponsored the bill.

House Passes Senate Bill on Vet Daycare

On Tuesday, by voice vote, the House of Representatives passed S.324, the State Veterans Home Adult Day Health Care Improvement Act of 2017, sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). The legislation allows the Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary to enter into an agreement with each state home for payment by the Secretary for medical supervision model adult day health care provided to a veteran. The veteran must need such care for a service-connected disability. Adult Day Health Care is a program veterans can go to during the day for social activities, peer support, companionship, and recreation. The program is for veterans who need skilled services, case management and help with activities of daily living. Medical supervision model adult day health care means adult day health care that includes the coordination of physician services, dental services, nursing services, and the administration of drugs.

BIAA Supports Legislation to Ensure Access to Air Ambulance Services

The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) has signed on to a letter in support of H.R. 3378 and S.2121, the Ensuring Access to Air Ambulance Services Act, sponsored by Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) and Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.). The legislation addresses reimbursement under the Medicare program, as rates have not been updated in two decades. The fee schedule was first developed in 1998 and was not based on actual provider costs.

BIAA Opposes Senate Considering the ADA Education and Reform Act

As a member of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), BIAA signed on to a CCD letter opposing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Education and Reform Act of 2017 (H.R. 620), which recently passed the House of Representatives. The CCD letter urges Senate leaders not to bring the bill up for Senate consideration. H.R. 620 would create significant obstacles for people with disabilities to enforce their rights under Title III of the ADA to access public accommodations.

BIAA Supports Falls Prevention Funding

BIAA joined other organizations on a letter urging House and Senate Appropriators to fund the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Injury Prevention and Control programming and research to prevent older adult falls at a minimum of $2 million for fiscal year 2019. The CDC houses the experience required to institute public health strategies to create a safety system for older adults and is also evaluating fall prevention strategies to help communities identify the best, evidence based efforts to prevent falls and keep older adults safe and independent.

Senators Introduce Bill to Facilitate Out-of-State Care for Children with Complex Needs

On Feb.12, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) introduced S.2415, the Accelerating Access to Kids Care Act, which would expedite care that only can be obtained from out of state providers for children with medically complex needs. The legislation would allow a provider or supplier of medical or other items or services to elect to go through a screening and enrollment process established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to furnish such services to a child for which payment is available under the State Medicaid Plan that is located in another state. The purpose is to set up a nationwide streamlined screening and enrollment process for limited risk providers who care for children (and the adults who have medically complex needs which began in childhood) under the Medicaid and CHIP programs to accelerate access to appropriate care.

House Democratic Leaders to Host Forum on School Safety

Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce; Committee Democrats; and Democratic Leadership will host a forum March 20 to examine issues of school climate, school safety, and violence prevention. Members are invited to hear from and question experts and practitioners on research and best practices around promoting improved school climate through evidence-based preventative measures. The meeting will take place in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, Room HVC 215 at 2 p.m.

CPR Steering Committee to Submit Letter on Medicare Advantage Prior Authorization

As a member of the Coalition to Preserve Rehabilitation (CPR), BIAA supports a letter being sent to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that addresses the growing use of prior authorization by Medicare Advantage plans which typically use the process to deny or delay services, including rehabilitation services and devices. The CPR asks that CMS eliminate the administrative barriers to patient access to medically necessary services that are imposed by Medicare Advantage plans’ increasing prior authorization requirements.

BIAA gratefully acknowledges the Centre for Neuro Skills and Avanir Pharmaceuticals for their support for legislative action.