Advocacy at the State Level
Brain Injury Awareness Day in Harrisburg
Each October, advocates gather at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg for an inspiring day of brain injury advocacy. Thanks to everyone who joins and especially survivors Kevin McDonald and Melissa Carmen, for making this advocacy day such a success. Please check back for the date of the 2025 Brain Injury Awareness Day in Harrisburg.
CLICK HERE to view a video of the 2024 Brain Injury Awareness Day speeches. We look forward to building on this momentum as we amplify our voices for this often-invisible injury!
Pennsylvania Brain Injury Caucus
The Pennsylvania Brain Injury Caucus is a group of members of the House and Senate who pursue legislative initiatives that will advance treatments and understanding of brain injury. The Pennsylvania Brain Injury Caucus is led by Senators Frank Farry and Tim Kearney and Representatives Tim Briggs and Ann Flood.
Please check in with your local Representatives to see if they are members of 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:
Brain Injury Coalition
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.
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 it works to keep them informed of legislative and policy issues that affect individuals with brain injury and their families.
The Pennsylvania Brain Injury Coalition’s focus now is on four important legislative initiatives, which are listed below.
Current Legislative Priorities
Brain Injury Residential Provider Rate Parity Legislation
Provides parity for brain injury residential providers, who have not received rate increases since 2012, with autism and intellectual disability providers, who have received increases. The current service rate underfunded by 44%. This initiative will benefit people with severe brain injuries who qualify for public-funded long-term services and supports. The current request is for a $13 million line-item for OLTL (Office of Long-Term Living), which will become $30 million with a federal match.
HB 444 & SB 318
These bills aim to secure access to Post-Acute Neuro-Rehabilitation, including Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy (CRT) and other essential brain injury treatments, through commercial health insurance. Introduced by Senators Kearney and Ward, and Representatives Briggs and Flood, these bills would amend the Insurance Act to require Commercial Health Insurance to cover all medically necessary post-acute Neuro-Rehabilitation. This would benefit people with newly acquired brain injuries who have commercial health insurance - mild, moderate, and severe - to be able to get the right care early in their disability.
Brain Injury Supports Legislation
Proposed legislation that would ensure a state budget line-item for core brain injury supports – Neuro-Resource Facilitation, BrainSTEPS School Re-Entry Brain Injury Consulting Program, Brain Injury Education & Training. This bill would benefit all people with brain injury and their families.
Amend the Safety in Youth Sports Act SB 101
Proposed legislation that would amend the Safety in Youth Sports Act to include non-scholastic league and recreational sports, and to provide information on Return to Learn
BrainSTEPS.net
WHAT YOU CAN DO
- Contact your State Representative to ask for support by adding their name as a co-sponsor to HB 444
- Contact your State Senator to ask for support by adding their name as a co-sponsor to SB 318
Click Here to find your State Representative and State Senator.
