Policy Corner: December 18, 2020

Congress Must Pass Appropriations Measure to Keep Government Funded

Congress has until midnight tonight to authorize new appropriations bills for the upcoming fiscal year or pass another continuing resolution (CR) to keep the federal government funded and avoid a government shutdown. The one-week CR enacted last week also included a one-week extension of certain health- and long-term care and services programs. Congress is currently discussing whether to add a COVID-19 relief package to the appropriations measure. The bipartisan draft agreement to provide relief includes funding for critically important home- and community-based services, but the amount falls far short of the need and is in danger of being dropped as negotiations continue. Advocacy organizations are calling on their members to contact members of Congress about the need to protect older adults and people with disabilities, who are at greater risk of contracting COVID-19, as well as their family caregivers, who struggle under stress and social isolation to continue to provide care without support.

CPR is Seeking Information on Impact of COVID-19 on Rehabilitation

The Steering Committee of the Coalition to Preserve Rehabilitation (CPR), of which the Brain Injury Association of America is a member, has engaged in significant discussion about how best to address the serious and growing long-term impact of COVID-19 and the need for rehabilitation to restore function in many survivors. To address the reported long-term symptoms and sequelae associated with COVID-19 infection, many types of rehabilitation may be necessary including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, pulmonary therapy, respiratory therapy, cardiac therapy, cognitive therapy, mental health treatment, and any other relevant therapies.

CPR is looking to build a set of policy recommendations to increase access to COVID-19 rehabilitation as well as a roster of patient stories outlining the importance of COVID-19 rehabilitation to address long-term symptoms. Should you have any specific policy recommendations that would assist with improving the availability and access to care and long-term rehabilitation for COVID-19 patients, please contact Joe Nahra, CPR coordinator, by Dec. 31. Additionally, CPR is looking for patient and caregiver stories about the potential long-term effects of COVID-19, successful rehabilitation after COVID-19, as the result, and facing barriers in accessing COVID-19-related rehabilitation. If you have a story you would like to share, please contact Joe Nahra.

Policy Corner Takes a Holiday Break

BIAA’s Policy Corner will return January 8, 2021. Happy Holidays!

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.