Advocacy at the State Level
Brain Injury Awareness Day in Harrisburg
The PA State Capitol played host again to the 4th Annual Brain Injury Awareness Day on October 17, 2023. Although it was a busy day for Legislators, time was still taken to join us in providing Education, Awareness, and Advocacy Efforts for those in PA living with Brain Injury. Approximately 50 members of the Brain Injury Community were in attendance.
We ask all who support the brain injury community to help us advocate for HB1682. Please contact your local PA Representative to ask them to sign on to this bill. If you are unsure of how to find or contact you representative, go to www.legis.state.pa.us or contact the Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania for assistance.
We need your voice.
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:
HB1682
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