Advocacy at the State Level
Brain Injury Awareness Day in Harrisburg
On October 7, advocates gathered at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg for an inspiring day of brain injury advocacy. Thanks to everyone who joined us—we look forward to building on this momentum as we amplify our voices for this often-invisible injury!
Our focus now is House Bill 1682 and Senate Bill 1094. This legislation aims to secure access to Post-Acute NeuroRehabilitation, including Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy (CRT) and other essential brain injury treatments, through commercial health insurance. We encourage you to contact your local state representative and urge them to support this critical bill as a co-sponsor. With the bill set to be reintroduced after the upcoming election, we’ll need advocates ready to push this work forward in the coming year.
The Pennsylvania Brain Injury Caucus
The Pennsylvania Brain Injury Caucus, led by Senators Ryan Aument and Tim Kearney and Representatives Tim Briggs and Ann Flood, continues to pursue legislative initiatives to advance brain injury treatment and understanding.
Thank you to all involved, especially survivors Kevin McDonald and Melissa Carmen, for making this advocacy day such a success.
CLICK HERE to view a video of the 2024 Brain Injury Awareness Day speeches.
The Brain Injury Association participates in advocacy efforts on behalf of the brain injury community by participating in the Brain Injury Coalition and serving in an advisory capacity on policy issues.
Brain Injury Coalition
The Pennsylvania Brain Injury Coalition is a collaborative effort among individuals with brain injury, family members, the Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania, the Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers Society. The Coalition has established caucuses in both the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the Pennsylvania Senate, and works to keep them informed of legislative and policy issues that affect individuals with brain injury and their families.
Caucuses
Senators Ryan Aument and Tim Kearney are the Senate Caucus Chair while Representatives Tim Briggs and Ann Flood serve as the co-chairs of the House Caucus. The Pennsylvania Brain Injury Caucus is a group of members of the House and Senate that pursue legislative initiatives that will advance treatments and understanding of brain injury.
Please check in with your local Representatives to see if they are on the Caucus, and if they are not a member ask them to contact one of the Chairs to join.
You can find your state legislators by clicking the button below:
Current Legislative Priority
HB 1682- Ensuring Access to Post-Acute NeuroRehabilitation for Pennsylvanians Experiencing Acquired Brain Injury
This bill will ensure that commercial health insurance plans provide for Post-Acute NeuroRehabilitation, including Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy (CRT) and other brain injury treatments, related to treatment for brain injuries.
The bill was introduced in the House by Representative Tim Briggs on September 19, 2023 and referred to the Insurance Committee. We encourage you to contact you local state representative to let them know how important this is to you and ask that they sign on as a co-sponsor.
You can download a copy of the bill here:
2023-0-HB1682P1990
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Contact your State Representative to ask for support by adding their name as a co-sponsor.
To learn more, download a document that includes a summary and talking points to use with your state legislator here.
SB # 1094. https://legiscan.com/PA/bill/SB1094/2023
There is now a companion bill to HB 1682 in the Pennsylvania Senate. Senator Tim Kearney introduced it on March 11, 2024.
You can download a copy of the bill here:
SB1094
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Contact your State Senator to ask for support by adding their name as a co-sponsor.
To learn more, download a document that includes a summary and talking points to use with your state legislator here.
Current Policy Issues
- Community Health Choices, issues of access and person centered services plans for individuals with brain injury
- Office of Vocational Rehabilitation services for individuals with brain injury