Policy Corner: September 17, 2021

Rep. DeSaulnier Introduces Protecting Student Athletes from Concussion Act

Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.) introduced the Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act, H.R. 5216. The legislation would bring all states in line with evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of sports concussions as recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Academy of Neurology. It would also require states that receive federal education funding to form concussion management teams and develop concussion guidelines. Beginning in 2023, states would need to certify that they have established statewide requirements for concussion safety and management or they will lose federal education funding. Every public school would need to post the concussion-related info visibly on school grounds. If a student is suspected to have sustained a concussion during a school-sponsored athletic activity, the student would be immediately removed and prohibited from resuming activity until a written note from a medical professional was provided.

House Committees Approve Reconciliation Legislation

The House Energy and Commerce Committee, chaired by Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.), passed its provisions of the Build Back Better Act and the House Education and Labor Committee, chaired by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), voted to advance its portion of the legislation last Friday. The Energy and Commerce Committee approved $190 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services to expand access to quality home-based services and care for older adults and people with disabilities, including people with brain injury. To strengthen the direct care workforce, the legislation proposes to improve provider payment rates and give states the resources to improve care infrastructure. The legislation also makes permanent the Money Follows the Person (MFP) and the spousal impoverishment programs. The MFP program has been successful in states that have identified individuals with brain injury in nursing facilities and transitioned them to home and community-based services of their choice.

The legislation also provides $3 billion in funding to establish the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health to make pivotal investments in breakthrough technologies that have the potential to transform important areas of medicine and health for the benefit of all individuals..

The Education and Labor proposal includes:

• $1.4 billion, which would be available until 2031, for workforce grants to recruit and train direct care worker.

• Allocating $5 million, until FY 2026, to establish a Technical Assistance Center for Supporting Direct Care and Caregiving within the Administration for Community Living.

• $400 million for nursing home worker grants, with $392 million provided to states and $8 million provided to Native American Tribal Organizations.
• Providing assistance to states wanting to phase out subminimum wages for workers with disabilities.

Energy and Commerce Committee to Hold Oversight Hearing on the Impact of COVID-19 on Children

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.) and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chair Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) announced this week that the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee will hold a hearing Wednesday, Sept. 22 on the health impacts of COVID-19 on children and adolescents. The hearing is entitled, “Putting Kids First: Addressing COVID-19’s Impacts on Children.” The purpose is to better understand both the effects of the disease and its broader impact on children’s health.

House Social Determinants of Health and Issues Caucus Issues RFI

Reps. Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.), Tom Cole (R-Okla.), G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) launched the bipartisan Congressional Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Caucus in July to explore opportunities to improve the impact of services delivered to address social determinants of health. The SDOH Caucus will work to amplify evidence-based approaches to holistic wellbeing and to highlight opportunities for coordination to improve health outcomes and maximize existing and future federal investments in health, food, housing, transportation, and other important drivers of health. Leadership is needed to break down the barriers that impede better coordination between health and social services programs. To assist with this endeavor, the SDOH Caucus has issued a Request for Information. Submissions are due Sept. 21, 2021. You may submit your comments here.

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.