Policy Corner: October 15, 2021

Senators Call for State Department to Address Havana Syndrome

In a letter sent to Secretary of State Antony Blinken this week, a bipartisan group of senators urged him to name a point person to lead an investigation into reports about the “Havana Syndrome” causing diplomats, intelligence personnel, and other U.S. officials to get sick with concussion-like symptoms at some overseas posts. Legislation was recently signed by the president to compensate certain federal personnel who experience this condition. The senators believe there needs to be urgency to this situation, hence the letter that was signed by Sens. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Ranking Member; Tim Kaine (D-Va.); and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.).

BIAA Joins on Letter to CMS Expressing Concern about IRF Review

The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) signed on to the Oct. 8 letter submitted by the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) Health Task Force to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administrator regarding the proposed rule for the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Review Choice Demonstration (IRF RCD). The proposal calls for the RCD to impose 100% medical review by CMS contractors on every Medicare beneficiary admitted to an IRF in up to 17 states over a five-year demonstration period. The premise of this expansive audit demonstration is to help ensure that Medicare beneficiaries admitted to IRFs are appropriate patients to be served in that setting of care. The letter expressed concerns that the method would impact individuals with brain injury who need intensive, coordinated, interdisciplinary rehabilitation care being turned away from IRFs and sent to less appropriate settings that may not meet their medical and functional needs.

House and Senate Scheduled to be in their Home Districts

Both the House of Representatives and the Senate are scheduled to be away from Washington, D.C., and in their home districts for the remainder of October. Some committees, however, will be holding hearings during that time both remotely and in person.

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.