Policy Corner: June 28, 2024

Federal Updates

The TBI Act Reauthorization Bill is on House Calendar

Since May 22, H.R. 7208, the Dennis John Beningo Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act of 2024, has been on the House calendar for full House action. The bill authorizes funding for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services brain injury programs through FY 2029. These programs are carried out by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The bill includes a new provision directing CDC to examine the evidence base for designating brain injury as a chronic condition that can impact individuals with brain injury across the lifespan and to issue a report on its findings no later than two years after the date of enactment of this Act. The next step is for the full House to consider the bill.

H.R. 7208 is sponsored by Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-N.J.) and co-sponsored by Reps. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.); Michael Lawler (N.Y); Terri A. Sewell (D-Ala.); Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.); Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.); and Dan Crenshaw (R-Tex.) The TBI Act was first passed in 1996 and has been reauthorized each time the programs were set to expire, with the last reauthorization enacted in 2018.

Four Brain Injury Amendments Added to Defense Package

Four amendments addressing traumatic brain injury (TBI) in American service members will be included as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. These additions to the annual defense bill will lead the Department of Defense to enhance injury identification, as well as find better and more modern treatments for American service members affected by brain injuries.

The four amendments were introduced by Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), the co-chairman and co-founder of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force. The various amendments are cosponsored by Congressmembers Joe Wilson (R-SC-02), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ-07), Julia Brownley (D-CA-26), Don Bacon (D-NE-02), and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06).

According to Rep. Pascrell’s office, the amendments being considered would:

• Require the Department of Defense to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of eliminating outpatient rehabilitation therapy maximums for active-duty service members who suffered a traumatic brain injury.
• Require the Department of Defense to conduct a study to analyze the feasibility of recognizing non-governmental accreditation bodies for brain injury treatment programs for active-duty service members that sustained a brain injury.
• Require the Department of Defense to develop a Traumatic Brain Injury Oversight Strategy and Action Plan to standardize identification, treatment, tracking, monitoring, and referral guidelines for TBI programs across all military branches. The Plan must include a standardized system of monitoring and care to include a 72-hour post injury exam and protocols, data collection and reporting guidelines.
• Require the Department of Defense to conduct a study on the enhancement of diagnostic screening tools for TBI. The study should identify definitive point-of-injury solutions for TBI testing. The study should address DOD’s ability to rapidly and accurately assess brain injury and its severity with point-of-injury technology, greatly enhancing the health, survival, and long-term medical issues of service members and veterans. The study should address the impact of how accurate TBI diagnostic tools would improve military readiness and address the concern for a growing medical burden.