Nat’l Assoc. of State Head Injury Administrators: Washington Weekly UPDATE

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Ian Mattoch

Serving as President of Brain Injury Association of Hawaii and member of the state’s Neurotrauma Advisory Board, personal injury lawyer Ian Mattoch was updated on this week’s federal policies that affect persons who have suffered head trauma. In this week’s edition of Washington Weekly, Susan Vaughn, Director of Public Policy for the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators reported the following:

Senate Confirms CMS Administrator
This week, the United States Senate confirmed Marilyn Tavenner as administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Previously, Ms. Tavenner was the Acting Administrator for CMS, and prior to that, she served as Principal Deputy Administrator, over the agency that administers Medicare, and provides funds and guidance to all States for their Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance (CHIP) programs. With the passage of the Affordable Care Act in March of 2010, Ms. Tavenner is also responsible for overseeing CMS as it implements the insurance reforms and Health Insurance Marketplaces included in the health reform law.

CORI Awards $88.6M in Funding for Comparative Effectiveness Research Projects
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) approved 51 new awards,
totaling $88.6 million over three years, to fund patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) projects under the first four areas of its National Priorities for Research and Research Agenda. This announcement brings the total that PCORI has awarded for projects addressing these priorities to $129.3 million. PCORI committed another $30 million in funding for a series of pilot projects. The approved projects were selected through a review process in which scientists, patients, caregivers, and other stakeholders helped to evaluate proposals.

As described in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA), one of the first responsibilities of the Patient — Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) was to establish and publish for comment a draft National Priorities for Research and a Research Agenda. The priorities and agenda are intended to lay the foundation for a portfolio of comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) that addresses PCORI’s statutory purpose.

CDC Announces Grants for Injury Control Research Centers
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) NationalCenter for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) is seeking applications from qualified organizations for Injury Control Research Center (ICRC) grants. The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) CDC-RFA-CE14-001 “Grants for Injury Control Research Centers” was published on www.grants.gov, on Tuesday, May 7, 2013. These Centers will conduct high quality research and help translate scientific discoveries into practice for the prevention and control of fatal and nonfatal injuries, violence, and related disabilities to support NCIPC’s priorities and mission. ICRCs are expected to address important and relevant injury and/or violence prevention topic areas and to be a national leader in the area of injury and/or violence prevention.

NCIPC intends to commit approximately $3,600,000 in FY 2014 to fund up to five applications: three (3) comprehensive center awards and two (2) developmental center awards. The maximum award amount will be $900,000 per year for each of the three comprehensive centers, and the maximum award amount will be $450,000 per year for each of the two developmental centers. The application due date is November 4, 2013. The Letter of Intent due date is September 6, 2013. Learn more by viewing the Funding Opportunity Announcement or go to www.grants.gov and search by announcement number CDC-RFA-CE14-001.

RSA Publishes Notice of Grant Awards for CILs
Last Week, the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) published in the Federal Register the notification of new awards for Centers for Independent Living for FY 2013. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications is June 10, 2013. Click here for more information.

Proposed Rule on Medicaid DSH Allotment Reductions
CMS has released a proposed rule on Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) Allotment Reductions on May 13. As amended by the Affordable Care Act, the statute requires a gradual reduction in special federal payments to state Medicaid DSH providers. This proposed rule delineates a methodology to limit the reductions to two years, implementing the reductions for FY 2014 and FY 2015. The rule also proposes to add additional DSH reporting requirements for use in implementing the DSH health reform methodology.

OSERS Announces NIDRR Priorities
The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) has announced priorities and definitions for the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program administered by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). Specifically, the announced priorities and definitions for Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) are: Community Living and Participation of Individuals with Disabilities (Priority 1), Health and Function of Individuals with Disabilities (Priority 2), and Employment of Individuals with Disabilities (Priority 3). If an applicant proposes to conduct research under these priorities, the research must be focused on one of the four stages of research defined in this notice of final priorities and definitions. These priorities and definitions are effective June 6, 2013. For further information click here.

Reports and Resources
Kaiser Foundation Issues Brief on Costs and Use of Medicaid
On May 3rd, the Kaiser Family Foundation issued the brief, “What Difference Does Medicaid Make? Assessing Cost Effectiveness, Access, and Financial Protection under Medicaid for Low-Income Adults”, examining the cost and use of health care among low-income nonelderly adults who are covered by Medicaid relative to their expected service use and costs if they instead had employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) coverage or were uninsured. The analysis controls for a wide array of factors that also influence utilization and spending in an effort to isolate the specific effects of Medicaid coverage. Consistent with previous research, the analysis underscores how Medicaid facilitates access to care for program beneficiaries. Click here to view the brief.

TBIListServ: Federal News Update

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Ian Mattoch

Personal injury attorney Ian Mattoch has represented the catastrophically injured in Hawaii for over 35 years. As a member of the TBI Listserv, Ian received the following update of Federal news, activities and events related to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI):

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD)
Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE): Military Kids Website Adds New Features to Help Parents and Educators

The Defense Department added new features to its website for military children, MilitaryKidsConnect.org<http://www.militarykidsconnect.org/>, to help parents and educators explain difficult topics associated with military life. Since its launch last January, MilitaryKidsConnect.org has served more than 125,000 visitors and won five industry excellence awards. To mark the one-year anniversary, the website has new content designed for children, parents and educators. MilitaryKidsConnect.org was created by the Defense Department’s National Center for Telehealth and Technology<http://www.t2health.org/>, known as T2.

The website uses innovative ways to help military youth cope with the unique strains of military life. In addition to disruptions from parents deploying to assignments away from home, military children are affected by moving frequently, changing schools and making new friends. They also have to live with readjustment issues a parent might experience after a deployment. These issues may be associated with post-traumatic stress or physical disabilities, for example.

“After watching the interaction with kids on Military Kids Connect this past year, we saw many conversations about trying to understand the issues they live with,” said Dr. Kelly Blasko, T2 psychologist. “We developed the added features to help parents and teachers answer questions kids were sharing with each other.”

Blasko said the website will continue to add features and information. Separations, moving and changing friends frequently may be unusual experiences for civilian children, but for military kids, they’re common challenges.

According to Blasko, the website helps military kids understand their world and, hopefully, makes it more fun for them.

The National Center for Telehealth and Technology, located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., serves as the primary Defense Department office for cutting-edge approaches in applying technology to psychological health. More information about MilitaryKidsConnect.org and T2 is at t2health.org<http://www.t2health.org/>.

T2 is a part of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury<http://www.dcoe.health.mil/>.
________________________________

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Get a Heads Up on Concussion in Sports Policies

Recently many states, schools, and sports leagues and organizations have created policies or action plans on concussion in youth and high school sports. While these policy efforts show some promise, more research is needed to learn if these strategies can help educate coaches and parents about this issue and help protect children and teens from concussion and other serious brain injuries.

State Laws:
Beginning in 2009, the state of Washington passed the first concussion in sports law, called the Zackery Lystedt Law.4 One month later, Max’s law passed in Oregon. In total, between 2009 and 2012, 43 states, and the District of Columbia, passed laws on concussions in sports for youth and/or high school athletes (often called Return to Play laws). Some organizations, such as the National Conference of State Legislatures, created online maps to track and update concussion in sports laws by state.

Local Policies and Action Plans:
Along with the three action steps listed above, some school and league concussion policies include additional action steps in their policies or implementation plans. Research is needed to learn if these additional action steps can help protect children and teens from concussion and other serious brain injuries.

Download Get a Heads Up on Concussion in Sports Policies PDF [cid:image001.png@01CE44B9.22C72C80] [590KB]<http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/pdf/HeadsUpOnConcussionInSportsPolicies-a.pdf>

Implementing Return to Play: Learning from the Experiences from Early Implementers:
In May 2009, the State of Washington passed the “Zackery Lystedt Law” to address concussion management in youth athletics. The Washington law was the first state law to require a “removal and clearance for Return to Play” among youth athletes. Between 2009 and 2012, 42 additional states and the District of Columbia passed similar laws.

In order to assess the implementation of Return to Play laws, the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) conducted a case study evaluation on the Return to Play implementation efforts in two states: Washington and Massachusetts. These two states were selected because they were both early adopters of Return to Play and because their laws varied on several important dimensions, including the role of the health department and other stakeholder groups. The evaluation was designed to assess implementation efforts, including related challenges and successes in implementation.

Return to Play laws include a variety of different components that can be complicated to implement, such as removal from play, collection of concussion histories, required training for different stakeholders, etc. Additionally, Return to Play laws do not always provide specific guidance on how each of the components of the laws should be carried out. Some laws identify a specific entity, such as a state agency, to develop regulations and other laws are less specific. As a result, implementers are sometimes required to make decisions after the law has passed that can have an impact on successful implementation. Thoroughly considering the logistics of implementation and engaging in a robust planning process can help increase the consistency and quality of implementation.

Download the Implementing Return to Play Guide [cid:image001.png@01CE44B9.22C72C80] [550KB]<http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/pdf/RTP_Implementation-a.pdf>

Mobile Device Use While Driving — United States and Seven European Countries, 2011
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)<http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/> Weekly Report: March 15, 2013 / 62(10); 177-182

Road traffic crashes are a global public health problem, contributing to an estimated 1.3 million deaths annually. Known risk factors for road traffic crashes and related injuries and deaths include speed, alcohol, nonuse of restraints, and nonuse of helmets. More recently, driver distraction has become an emerging concern. To assess the prevalence of mobile device use while driving in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States, CDC analyzed data from the 2011 EuroPNStyles and HealthStyles surveys. Prevalence estimates for self-reported talking on a cell phone while driving and reading or sending text or e-mail messages while driving were calculated.

Reported by Rebecca B. Naumann, MSPH, Ann M. Dellinger, PhD, Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, CDC. Corresponding contributor: Rebecca B. Naumann, rnaumann@cdc.gov<mailto:rnaumann@cdc.gov>, 770-488-3922.

Mobile Device Use While Driving — United States and Seven European Countries, 2011
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm6210.pdf

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA):
Report to Congress on the Prevention and Reduction of Underage Drinking, November 2012: The Report to Congress on the Prevention and Reduction of Underage Drinking includes a comprehensive review of state policies and programs that can serve as an invaluable resource for coalitions, state agencies, researchers, and the general public.

The data for each state are collected in a State Report, which is the most comprehensive and readily accessible summary of state underage drinking prevention activities available. Each State Report and Policy Summary are easily retrievable using dropdown menus on the website.

Report to Congress on the Prevention and Reduction of Underage Drinking, November 2012
http://store.samhsa.gov/product/PEP12-RTCUAD

________________________________

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA):
Substance Use and Traumatic Brain Injury Risk Reduction and Prevention

The Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 19 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) is pleased to announce the release of an educational video titled, Substance Use and Traumatic Brain Injury Risk Reduction and Prevention.

This seven-minute program provides information regarding the impact of using drugs and alcohol after a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The video guides the viewer through a discussion about how the brain works before and after a brain injury, and then demonstrates how drugs and alcohol can affect persons with a history of TBI using brain animations and short vignettes.

This tool was designed to help providers engage clients in a dialogue about substance use post-injury and was made possible by funding from the U.S. Department of Defense, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program.

Jennifer Olson-Madden<http://www.mirecc.va.gov/visn19/staff/olson-madden.asp>, Ph.D., VISN 19 MIRECC was the project PI. Collaborators included John Corrigan, Ph.D., Ohio State University, and Lisa Brenner<http://www.mirecc.va.gov/visn19/staff/brenner.asp>, Ph.D., VISN 19 MIRECC.

Watch and Order the Video: Substance Use and Traumatic Brain Injury Risk Reduction and Prevention at: http://www.mirecc.va.gov/visn19/orderSudVideo/orderSudDvd.asp.

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES – Institute of Medicine<http://www.iom.edu/>
Sports-Related Concussions in Youth

Project Scope: An ad hoc committee will conduct a study and prepare a report on sports-related concussions in youth, from elementary school through young adulthood, including military personnel and their dependents. The committee will review the available literature on concussions, in the context of developmental neurobiology, in terms of their causes, relationships to hits to the head or body during sports, effectiveness of protective devices and equipment, screening and diagnosis, treatment and management, and long-term consequences.

Based on currently available evidence, the report will include findings on all of the above and provide recommendations to specific agencies and organizations (governmental and non-governmental) on factors to consider when determining the concussive status of a player. The report will include a section focused on youth sport concussion in military dependents as well as concussion resulting from sports and physical training at Service academies and recruit training for military personnel between the ages of 18-21. Recommendations will be geared toward research funding agencies (NIH, CDC, AHRQ, MCHB, DoD), legislatures (Congress, state legislatures), state and school superintendents and athletic directors, athletic personnel (athletic directors, coaches, athletic trainers), military personnel (sports medicine providers, athletic trainers, Service academy trainers and directors), parents, and equipment manufacturers. The report will also identify the need for further research to answer questions raised during the study process.

The project is sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Defense, Department of Education, Health Resources and Services Administration, National Athletic Trainers’ Association Research and Education Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and National Foundation for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC Foundation). Funding for the study was provided to the CDC Foundation by the National Football League. The project began on October 1, 2012. A consensus report will be issued at the end of the project.

Provide FEEDBACK<http://www8.nationalacademies.org/cp/feedback.aspx?key=49495&type=project> on this project.

THE WHITE HOUSE:
Fact Sheet: BRAIN Initiative – April 2013

“If we want to make the best products, we also have to invest in the best ideas… Every dollar we invested to map the human genome returned $140 to our economy… Today, our scientists are mapping the human brain to unlock the answers to Alzheimer’s… Now is not the time to gut these job-creating investments in science and innovation. Now is the time to reach a level of research and development not seen since the height of the Space Race.” – President Barack Obama, 2013 State of the Union

In his State of the Union address, the President laid out his vision for creating jobs and building a growing, thriving middle class by making a historic investment in research and development.

Today, at a White House event, the President unveiled a bold new research initiative designed to revolutionize our understanding of the human brain. Launched with approximately $100 million in the President’s Fiscal Year 2014 Budget, the BRAIN (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) Initiative ultimately aims to help researchers find new ways to treat, cure, and even prevent brain disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury.

The BRAIN Initiative will accelerate the development and application of new technologies that will enable researchers to produce dynamic pictures of the brain that show how individual brain cells and complex neural circuits interact at the speed of thought. These technologies will open new doors to explore how the brain records, processes, uses, stores, and retrieves vast quantities of information, and shed light on the complex links between brain function and behavior.

This initiative is one of the Administration’s “Grand Challenges” – ambitious but achievable goals that require advances in science and technology. In his remarks today, the President called on companies, research universities, foundations, and philanthropists to join with him in identifying and pursuing the Grand Challenges of the 21st century.

BRAIN Initiative Challenges Researchers to Unlock Mysteries of Human Mind
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/04/02/brain-initiative-challenges-researchers-unlock-mysteries-human-mind

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NASHIA: Capital News! Update

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Ian Mattoch

In order to advocate resources for his clients, personal injury lawyer Ian Mattoch serves as President of Brain Injury Association of Hawaii and Member of Hawaii’s Neurotrauma Advisory Board. He was updated by the Director of Public Policy for the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA) in this month’s edition of NASHIA’s Capitol News!

In this issue you will find highlights of President Obama’s budget proposals for year 2014 that was released April 10, 2013.

NASHIA reported submission of testimony to both the House and Senate Subcommittees on Labor-HHS-Education-related agencies calling for increases to the TBI Act programs. NASHIA continues its work with TBI Stakeholders to pass legislation to reauthorize the TBI Act programs. H.R. 1098 has been introduced and Stakeholders are soliciting co-sponsors.

This Week in Congress: Both the House and Senate are in session this week. The Senate returned on Monday and began debate on legislation dealing with internet tax. The House returned Tuesday and has been working on the “Helping Sick Americans Now” introduced by Republicans to extend funding for high-risk pools for people with pre-existing conditions created by the Affordable Care Act by using about $3.7 billion from the Prevention and Public Health Trust Fund – a tactic to repeal the Affordable Care Act. (GOP leaders postponed a scheduled vote after the measure met strong opposition from both conservative groups resistant to any federal role in health care and from Democrats who objected that the Republicans planned to pay for the program from the prevention trust fund.)

For further information go to the NASHIA website (www.nashia.org) to the Public Policy page under Key Issues. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Susan Vaughn, Director of Public Policy, at publicpolicy@nashia.org.

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National Assoc. of State Head Injury Administrators: WA Weekly UPDATE

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Ian Mattoch

As president of Brain Injury Association of Hawaii, attorney Ian Mattoch keeps informed on policies that effect his clients’ resources. National Association of State Head Injury Administrators’ Director of Public Policy, Susan Vaughn, provided the following update to Ian from Washington:

Administration News
ACL Celebrates First Anniversary
This week the Administration for Community Living (ACL) marked its first Anniversary on Tuesday, April 16, 2013. A year ago, ACL was created within the Department of Health and Human Services bringing together the Administration on Aging (AoA), the Office on Disability and the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities into a single agency (AIDD). The mission of the ACL is to “maximize the independence, well-being, and health of older adults, people with disabilities across the lifespan, and their families and caregivers”. On April 10th, the President released his FY 2014 budget, which contained the first consolidated request for the ACL. The total ACL request is for $2.140 billion, and preserves funding for both the AIDD and the AoA core program. The Budget also proposes to transfer the ParalysisResourceCenter from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ACL, as well as increased funding for Alzheimer’s disease Supportive Services and first-time discretionary funding for Adult Protective Services.

NHTSA Presents Public Service Awards at the Lifesavers Conference
On Monday, April 15, 2013, during the 31st Annual Lifesavers Conference, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) presented 14 individuals and organizations with the agency’s top public service award for their tireless efforts in advancing highway safety throughout the country. The Lifesavers conference brings together individuals and public safety groups who all share the common goal of making America’s roads and communities safer. Participants are introduced to fresh ideas that help promote life-saving strategies and techniques. This year’s conference, hosted by the non-profit Lifesavers organization, was expected to draw well over 1,500 participants and 95 exhibitors. To see the individuals and organizations who received awards for their work click here.

Reports and Resources
CMS Unveils New TAC for Medicaid Managed Care
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a new Medicaid Managed Care Technical Assistance Center on Medicaid.gov. From CMS in collaboration with Mathematica Policy Research, Centers for Health Care Strategies, Manatt Health Solutions, and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), the TAC will provide individualized technical assistance to the States on managed care program operations, including planning and procurement, benefit design and serving the needs of complex populations, access and quality, and the use of data for program oversight and management.

State Studies Find Home and Community-Based Services to Be Cost-Effective
The AARP Public Policy Institute has released a March report on long-term services and supports (LTSS) in the States. The report says that the vast majority of people in need of LTSS want to live in their own homes and communities. States have made progress in providing greater access to home and community based services (HCBS) for people with low incomes. Many States have also conducted studies to ensure that HCBS are cost effective. This report contains a summary of a collection of relevant State studies as well as web links.

Upcoming Conferences and Webinars
SW ADA Center Offers Webinar on AT after High School
The Southwest ADA Center in collaboration with the RESNA Catalyst Project and the Great Lakes ADA Center are offering the webinar, “Negotiating Access to Assistive Technology After High School: Planning Strategies & Civil Rights”, on Tuesday, April 23, from 3-4 pm (ET). It will describe the cooperative planning and assistive technology service coordination that will assist post high school students with disabilities to continue their education in post-secondary schools, or to enter the workforce. The presentation will inform participants about the rights and responsibilities of students with disabilities, post-secondary schools, and employers. The webinar is free, and CEUs are available for a fee. Click here for more information and/or to register.

AHRA to Present Webinar on Patient-Centered Medical Homes
The next webinar session of the Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Health Care Innovations Exchange Web Series will focus on Accountable Care Organizations and Patient-Centered Medical Homes. The webinar, “Payment Models that Support Medical Home and Accountable Care Organization Principles: Maryland’s Experience”, will be held on Thursday, April 15th from 1-2 pm (ET). Click here for more information and/or to register.

AIRS Conference to be Held in June
The 35th Annual Training and Education Conference, “Blazing the Trail in I&R”, will take place at Portland Hilton & Executive Tower in Portland, Oregon on June 2 – 5, 2013. It will feature opportunities to learn from top leaders in a wide variety of educational sessions and to network with peers. The Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS), sponsor of the conference, operates an Accreditation Program that measures an organization’s ability to meet the AIRS Standards, and a Certification Program that evaluates the competence of I&R practitioners. Click here for more information.

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NASHIA: Washington Weekly Update

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Ian Mattoch

As a personal injury attorney in Hawaii, Ian Mattoch represents many catastrophically injured persons. He is proud to serve as President of the Brain Injury Association of Hawaii to ensure that his clients are informed on resources available to them. As a state head injury administrator, he receives weekly reports from Washington we public policy that effects disabled persons. This week’s update was prepared by Susan Vaughn, Director of Public Policy for the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA). Below are some highlights from last week’s Washington Weekly:

Administration News:
Obama Releases Fiscal Year 2014 Budget
On Wednesday, President Obama released his fiscal year (FY) 2014 budget proposal. The proposal calls for $3.77 trillion in spending for FY 2014, and would reduce the deficit by $1.8 trillion by increasing taxes for the wealthy and other measures. Cuts to the budget include approximately $130 billion in reductions over 10 years by enforcing chained consumer price indexing (CPI), as well as cuts to the Medicare program. The President proposes level funding for TBI Act programs. More details will be provided in the next issue of Capitol News.

DOL Releases March Disability Employment Statistics
Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Bureau of Labor Statistics released a new report on disability employment statistics. The report shows a small increase in disability employment; the unemployment rate in March 2013 was 13 percent, versus an unemployment rate of approximately 12.7 percent in February 2013. For more information click here.

HUD Launches Media Campaign on Fair Housing
As April is Fair Housing Month, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in conjunction with the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), launched a new national media campaign meant to educate the public and providers about rights and responsibilities under the 1968 Fair Housing Act. The Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to discriminate in the sale or rental of housing based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, familial status or disability. This year’s Fair Housing Month theme is “Our Work Today Defines Our Tomorrow,” spotlighting HUD’s current enforcement and education and outreach efforts and the work of its fair housing partners which are helping to foster sustainable, inclusive communities of opportunity for future generations. Click here to read the press release.

Federal Grants:
CMS Announces Funding for Navigators in Federal and State Partnership Marketplaces
On April 9th, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the availability of new funding to support Navigators in Federally-facilitated and State Partnership Marketplaces. Navigators are individuals and entities that will provide unbiased information to consumers about health insurance, the new Health Insurance Marketplace, qualified health plans, and public programs including Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. The new funding opportunity provides up to $54 million in total funding and applications are due by June 7, 2013. The funding opportunity announcement is open to eligible self-employed individuals and private and public entities applying to serve as Navigators in States with a Federally-facilitated or State Partnership Marketplace. (To read a fact sheet about the Navigator FOA click here.)

Reports and Resources:
AIRS Releases New Standards for I&R Services
The Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS) has released the 7th edition of the AIRS Standards and Quality Indicators for Professional Information and Referral. AIRS has changed the title of the Standards slightly to better incorporate the concept of quality indicators. The purpose of the AIRS Standards is to establish reference points that define expected practices within the field and provide guidelines that communities or other jurisdictions can use when they develop an I&R program to meet the needs of their people. The Standards are the foundation for AIRS Accreditation and provide an organizational context for certification of I&R and resource specialists through the AIRS Certified Information and Referral Specialist (CIRS), Certified Resource Specialist (CRS) and Certified Information and Referral Specialist Aging (CIRS-A) programs. For more information click here.

Kaiser Foundation Produces Briefs on Insurance Exchanges and ACA LTSS Options
Last month, the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured produced “Establishing Health Insurance Exchanges: An Overview of State Efforts” providing a brief overview of State decisions and efforts surrounding Health Insurance Exchanges. State-based health insurance exchanges, or marketplaces, are a key component of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and the places where individuals and small businesses will be able to shop for coverage. States can build a fully State-based exchange, enter into a State-Federal partnership exchange, or default to a federally-facilitated exchange. To date, 17 States plus the District of Columbia have declared that they intend to establish a State-based exchange and have received conditional approval from HHS. Seven States are planning to pursue a State-Federal partnership exchange with 26 States have indicated they will not create a State-based exchange and will likely default to a Federally-facilitated exchange.

This month, the Kaiser Family Foundation posted a new brief on the status of States use of long-term services options provided by the ACA, entitled, “How is the Affordable Care Act Leading to Changes in Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Today? State Adoption of Six LTSS Options.” To date, nearly every State (47 States and DC) has taken steps forward with at least one of the six options. Many States are pursuing or plan to pursue multiple new LTSS options. The most popular State options have been the Money Follows the Person (MFP) demonstration grants (45 States and DC) and financial alignment models for dual eligible beneficiaries (26 States).

Upcoming Conferences and Webinars:
CDC to Present Webinar on Implementing Clinical Fall Prevention in Your Community
On Wednesday, April 17th, the Centers for Injury Control and Prevention’s (CDC) InjuryCenter will host a webinar to learn about the development of the Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries (STEADI) Tool Kit, a suite of materials created by CDC’s InjuryCenter for health care providers. STEADI Tool Kit resources can be used to help assess, treat, and refer older adult patients based on their fall risk. The webinar will be held from noon – 1:00 pm (EST). Presenters will be Judy A. Stevens, Ph.D., Epidemiologist, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, and Richard J. Schuster, MD, MMM, FACP, Professor of Health Policy & Management, Director of Center for Global Health, University of Georgia College of Public Health. To register for the webinar click here.

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March is Brain Injury Awareness Month

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Ian Mattoch

In celebration of March as National and State Brain Injury Awareness month, our client, Maleko, his wife Renee, and his service puppy-in-training Kalei were featured guests on yesterday’s morning show on KITV.

Click here for link to the Hawaii News NOW video clip:
http://www.kitv.com/news/thismorning/Help-bring-awareness-to-Brain-Injuries-this-month/-/16414272/19457952/-/ygedsn/-/index.html.

KITV reporter Mehealani Richardson spoke with Maleko and Renee Vagi and Mary Wilson, R.N./Executive Director of BIA-HI about their inspirational story: Maleko was injured while installing a garage door in February of 2008. Due to the defective cables given to him by the garage door company, Maleko sustained skull fractures and a traumatic brain injury. Renee contacted us following Mark’s injury. We met with the Vagis on Maui to initiate their products liability case. In addition to a successful conclusion of the case, we are particularly proud of our advocacy in obtaining mainland-based transitional living rehabilitation for our client even though the family’s medical insurance company had denied the services twice after Maleko’s doctor had requested it. After successful rehabilitation and settlement of Maleko’s claim, our office’s continued relationship with the Vagis has culminated in its support and promotion of the Vagi’s Living Pono Project and the Malama Service Dog Program.

The Living Pono Project and Malama Service Dog Program is an example of a partnership that addresses the specific cultural aspects of a person with TBI living in the State of Hawaii through training and education of disabled persons while providing specific assistance to persons with traumatic brain injury through the use of service dogs. The goal of merging the Living Pono Project with the Malama Service Dog Program is to allow a person with TBI to successfully live and work in Hawaii and to avoid unnecessary or inappropriate institutional placement or even worse, out of state placement.

We are proud to continue our support of the Vagis in their efforts to enhance community brain injury awareness, as well as their grassroots effort to provide assistance to persons with traumatic brain injury in Hawaii. We felt well rewarded for our efforts when we received our client’s recent email:

Because of the unbelievable compassion and interest and true care you have all put into us, it has turned out our path is not just to breed these incredible farm dogs for homesteads, but we can also provide service dogs, and we are wanting them to be brain injury specific. We cannot thank you all so much for the path we have been sent on. Much much much much much mahalo to you all!

Maleko and Renee
Haiku English Shephers

The Vagis will be featured speakers at the Wednesday, March 27, 2013 Brain Injury Resource Center’s Open House at the Richards Street YWCA. This open house is sponsored by our firm and combines informational and interactive sessions about brain injury as well as an explanation of the BIRC program. The Open House is part of the Brain Injury Association of Hawaii’s celebration of Brain Injury Awareness Month 2013.

If you are interested in attending this open house, please contact the Brain Injury Association of Hawaii’s Executive Director, Mary Wilson, R.N. at 808-375-7565.

Posted in More About TBI, Recent TBI News, Speaking Engagements, TBI Resources and Links | Tagged brain, Hawaii, injury, lawyer | Leave a comment

Introduction of TBI Reauthorization Act of 2013

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Ian Mattoch

As a personal injury attorney, Ian Mattoch’s law practice specializes in representing persons with traumatic brain injury as a result of an accident that occurred in Hawaii. In order to fiercely advocate for resources for his clients, Ian has become president of the Brain Injury Association of Hawaii and serves on the Neurotrauma Advisory Board for Hawaii’s Dept. of Health.

Ian is pleased to forward the announcement from the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA) regarding last Wednesday introduction of the TBI Reauthorization Act of 2013, H.R. 1098.

H.R. 1098 reauthorizes the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) TBI State Grant Program to help States to continue their efforts in developing and expanding service delivery capacity for individuals with traumatic brain injury and their families; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) TBI Program to conduct surveillance, prevention and public education programs; the National Institutes of Health NIH) to conduct research in TBI; and the HHS Protection & Advocacy TBI Grant Program (PATBI) to make grants to state Protection and Advocacy Systems to provide critical advocacy services to ensure that people with traumatic brain injury live full and independent lives free from abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.

Since 1997, 49 States, District of Columbia and one Territory have participated in the State grant program and have made great strides in developing services, especially for those who are unserved or underserved, such as returning service members, individuals with co-occurring conditions, victims of domestic violence, and children and youth with TBI. While much work has been done, there is still much work to do to address the increasing number of Americans with TBI related disabilities.

Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) and Tom Rooney (R-FL), co-chairs of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, are now soliciting co-sponsors! Please contact your representative and also with asking others in your State to help, such as individuals with TBI, families, the chartered state affiliate of the Brain Injury Association of America or other state TBI advocacy organization, state TBI advisory council or board, state planning council on developmental disabilities, Governor’s Council on Disabilities, state council on independent living and state Vocational Rehab council.

For further information and to assist you in the above, got to the NASHIA website (www.nashia.org) to the Public Policy page under Key Issues. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Susan Vaughn, Director of Public Policy, at publicpolicy@nashia.org.

The National Association of State Head Injury Administrators assists State government in promoting partnerships and building systems to meet the needs of individuals with brain
injuries and their families.

Posted in Brain Injury Law, More About TBI, Recent TBI News, TBI Resources and Links | Tagged attorney, brain, Hawaii, injury, personal | Leave a comment

Am. Acad. of Neurology Meeting: Mild TBI and MRI Findings

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Ian Mattoch

This morning, I received the following article from one of Hawaii’s leading neurologists. As a lawyer representing persons with traumatic brain injury has made it imperative to keep up to date on the latest TBI research.

This article from the American Academy of Neurology features the following study: Brain Imaging After Mild Head Injury/Concussion Can Show Lesions

SAN DIEGO – Brain imaging soon after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) or mild concussion can detect tiny lesions that may eventually provide a target for treating people with mTBI, according to a study released today and that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 65th Annual Meeting in San Diego, March 16 to 23, 2013.

Studies of brain tissue once a person has died have shown that different types of lesions are associated with more severe TBI. “Our study suggests that imaging may be used to detect and distinguish between these lesions in a living person with mTBI and this finding has important implications for treatment,” said Gunjan Parikh, MD, with the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the University of Maryland, R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, MD. Parikh is also a member of the American Academy of Neurology.

The study involved 256 people with an average age of 50 who were admitted to the emergency department at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda and Washington Hospital Center
in the District of Columbia after mild head injuries. They underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans. Of those, 104 had imaging evidence of hemorrhage in the brain (67
percent reported loss of consciousness, and 65 percent reported amnesia, or temporary forgetfulness). People with hemorrhages underwent more detailed brain scans with advanced MRI within an average of 17 hours after the injury.

Advanced imaging showed that—of those 104 people with imaging evidence of hemorrhage—20 percent had microbleed lesions and 33 percent had tube-shaped linear lesions. Microbleeds were distributed throughout the brain whereas linear lesions, which were found mainly in one area, were more likely to be associated with injury to adjacent brain tissue.

The investigators hypothesized that the linear lesions seen on MRI may represent a type of vascular injury that is seen in brain tissue studies of people with more severe TBI. “If that theory is confirmed, it may provide an opportunity to develop treatment strategies for people who have suffered a mild TBI,” said Parikh.

The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, a collaborative effort among NIH, the Department of Defense and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to develop innovative approaches to brain injury diagnosis and recovery.

Learn more about concussion at http://www.aan.com/patients

Posted in More About TBI, Recent TBI News, TBI Resources and Links | Tagged brain, Hawaii, injury, lawyer, neurologists, traumatic | Leave a comment

BUSINESS WEEK: New Research Points to Brain Injuries in College Football

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Ian Mattoch

Personal injury lawyer Ian Mattoch receives articles from experts regarding important developments published in medical journals. Last week, a neuropsychologist from California forwarded Ian an article published in Business Week regarding research at Cleveland Clinic.

Researchers found a correlation elevated levels of an antibody
linked to brain damage in football players that sustained significant hits without loss of consciousness. “This elevated antibody level could be an early indicator of a pathological process that, with time, could perturb players’ brain health,” says Nicola Marchi, a professor of molecular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, who co-authored the study
with Lerner colleague Damir Janigro and Rochester’s Jeffrey Bazarian. “All football players have repeated subconcussive hits—throughout the game, the season, and their careers,” he says, but without external symptoms of injury, the hits were hard to measure. The blood tests appear to offer an early warning system. To read the entire article, click on the below link:
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-03-06/new-research-points-to-brain-injuries-in-college-football .

Posted in More About TBI, Recent TBI News, TBI Resources and Links | Tagged brain, Hawaii, injury, lawyer, personal | Leave a comment

Federal TBI Program: Seeking comments on pediatric TBI guideline protocol

Posted on March 9, 2013 by Ian Mattoch

As a fierce advocate for personal injury clients injured in Hawaii, lawyer Ian Mattoch is updated by the Federal TBI program. By sharing these updates, Ian, his staff, and his clients are actively involved in the development of resources for persons with traumatic brain injury. This week, TBISERV is seeking comments on pediatric TBI.

Seeking Comments on the Pediatric Mild TBI Guideline Protocol
Between March 7 and April 7, the Pediatric Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Guideline Workgroup is seeking public comment on a guideline protocol on diagnosing and treating pediatric mild TBI (among patients age 18 and under). Comprised of leading experts in the field of TBI, CDC Injury Center’s Board of Scientific Counselors established the Pediatric Mild TBI Guideline Workgroup to create a clinical guideline for health care professionals working in the acute care and primary care setting. The Workgroup is using the American Academy of Neurology’s (AAN) guideline development process to develop a multidisciplinary, evidence-based guideline.

You can access the guideline protocol for review and comment at: http://www.aan.com/go/practice/publiccomments.

Public comment on the guideline protocol is one of the first steps in the evidence-based clinical guideline development process. To learn more about the Pediatric Mild TBI Guideline Workgroup and next steps for the project, please visit: http://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/MTBI_pediatric.html.