THE Challenge! Spring 2011

Rep. Giffords’ staff, Rep. Pascrell and BIAA
Join Together on Affordable Care Act Provision
By Sarah D’Orsie, Director of Government Affairs, Brain Injury Association of America
A
recent article in USA Today, “For
Brain Injuries, a Treatment Gap,”
accurately reports the need for
individuals who sustain brain injuries to access
medically-necessary rehabilitation of sufficient
scope, intensity and duration from licensed
professionals in accredited settings to regain the
physical abilities and cognitive skills needed to
live healthy, independent and satisfying lives.
Following publication of this article, which
gained national attention, both Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ)
and the office of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) worked
with BIAA to submit letters to Sec. Kathleen Sebelius at
the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The
letters detail the existing coverage variability and urge HHS
to solve this access to care deficit by writing regulations that
include a comprehensive definition of rehabilitation within
the rehabilitative and habilitative services category of the
Affordable Care Act essential benefits package.
On April 7, 2011, BIAA, Rep. Pascrell, and the office of
Rep. Giffords called a press conference to announce the
submission of both letters to HHS. BIAA’s national medical
Dr. Brent Masel
Affordable Care Act
director, Dr. Brent Masel, spoke about the
critical need for access to care for people with
brain injury as Lauren Alfred, a staff member
for Rep. Giffords, highlighted the merits of
rehabilitation. Rep. Pascrell emphasized the
many policy implications of access to such care
through the treatment of the Affordable Care
Act regulations currently in the hands of HHS.
On April 8, 2011, Rep. Pascrell circulated a
“Dear Colleague” letter to all members of the
House of Representatives. The correspondence asks members
to author and submit similar letters to HHS in support of this
issue and of Rep. Giffords as she recovers. In response to this
request, BIAA sent a package to affiliates including a sample
letter, talking points, and all supporting documents to present to
their members of Congress and Senators during the district work
period between April 18, 2011 and April 29, 2011.
BIAA hopes to enlist as many members of Congress as
possible to urge HHS to consider an inclusive definition of
rehabilitation so that all people with brain injury have access
to the comprehensive care that Rep. Giffords is currently
receiving.
THE Challenge! | Spring 2011
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