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Dedicated members of the Brain Injury Association of
Iowa (BIA-IA) work together to increase the public's awareness of
brain injury and its consequences, develop support systems,
encourage appropriate rehabilitation for survivors, and disseminate
information about brain injury. BIA-IA believes that everyone who
faces life after brain injury deserves the opportunity to achieve
maximum functioning. BIA-IA advocates for statewide public and
private services and the funding to pay for them.
We advocate for and with people with brain
injury and family members by responding to their challenges and
representing their concerns through legislative efforts and active
support of programs created for their needs. The Association
participates with the
Advisory Council on Brain Injuries
(ACBI) and other partners in efforts to improve Iowa’s capacity to
support and serve Iowans experiencing brain injury and their
families. These activities are guided through a state planning
process governed by the ACBI and the current state plan can be
viewed on their website.
2008 Legislative and Public Policy Agenda
Brain Injury Association of
Iowa
The 2008 BIA-IA Legislative and Public Policy Agenda includes:
1. $5.22 million for
SFY 2009 to be directly allocated to the Iowa Department of Public
Health for its Brain Injury Services Program to maintain essential
services and supports to persons with brain injury and their
families, which include:
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Funding for 550 Medicaid HCBS Brain Injury Waiver
slots;
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Neuro-Resource Facilitation to Iowans experiencing
brain injury;
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Enhanced brain injury training to service providers
statewide; and,
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Services to 40 individuals on the Cost Share
Program.
2. $6.5 million for SFY
2010 to be directly allocated to the Iowa Department of Public
Health for its Brain Injury Services Program to maintain essential
services and account for increasing need.
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Funding for 688 Medicaid HCBS Brain Injury Waiver
slots;
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Neuro-Resource Facilitation to Iowans experiencing
brain injury;
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Enhanced brain injury training to service providers
statewide; and,
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Services to 50 individuals on the Cost Share
Program.
3. Fully funding all of
Iowa’s Medicaid Home and Community Based Waiver Slots, specifically
the BI Waiver.
4. Continued support of
the MH/MR/DD/BI redesign of county-based services to include
services to all Iowans with brain injury.
5. Enhance Iowa’s
passenger safety restraint law so all passengers riding in motor
vehicles are required to wear seatbelts.
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L e g i s l a t i v e A
c t i o n C e n t e r |
The National Brain Injury Association maintains
a terrific online advocacy resource called the
Legislative Action Center where you can enter your zip
code, find out about your state representatives and contact
them regarding issued that are of great importance to you and
the future of the brain injury community. Simply click on the
image of the Capitol building. |
Subscribe to the Iowa Legislative Publications Brief and receive
documents regarding the daily activities of the Iowa General
Assembly, notices that are sent when a new legislative document is
published, information and notices for specific committees, or
detailed bill information.
Legislative and
Policy Links
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