ANNOUNCEMENTS


	South Carolina Brain Injury Leadership Council

SCBILC-Home Life with Brain Injury

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Force Protection and MUSC Announce Opening of Center for Brain Research

CHARLESTON, S.C.--Force Protection, Inc. and the Medical University of South Carolina recently announced the opening of the Force Protection Center for Brain Research at MUSC.

The Center will conduct vital research designed to improving the quality of life for members of the armed forces and civilians who have suffered brain trauma, including Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

“Force Protection’s partnership with MUSC is an important extension of our company’s mission,” said Force Protection President and CEO Michael Moody. “The work of this Center will have a real and lasting impact on those who sacrifice so much to preserve our freedoms. We are bringing the great people, resources and skills of MUSC and Force Protection together. We aim to innovate and develop additional survivability solutions that will provide our men and women in uniform with the best possible protection.”

The partnership between Force Protection and MUSC has resulted in the funding for research equipment, office space, faculty, and employees for the Center and related research activities.

“We are pleased to partner with a company that has done so much to protect and save the lives of the troops serving our country,” said MUSC President Ray Greenberg. “Combining the medical research expertise of the University and the engineering expertise of our corporate sponsors will result in best-in-class service and treatment of the many men and women who have suffered devastating brain injuries in the line of duty. We’re excited to begin.”

Return to At War. At Home.

BIAA releases position paper on Cognitive Rehabilitation. Go to "Links" to connect to the BIAA website for more information.

DDSN and DHHS request funding for medical rehabilitation:

UPDATE (7-2-2007): The $2.1 million dollars for medical rehabilitation was included in the final budget signed by Governor Sanford. The leadership of the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs will now develop a plan for implementation.

UPDATE (6-13-2007): $2.1 million dollars in recurring funds were approved by the conference committee. The budget must now be approved by the General Assembly

BACKGROUND: The Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (DDSN) in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has requested $8.7 million dollars to address the post-acute medical rehabilitation needs of persons with traumitic brain injury or spinal cord injury. Currently South Carolina Medicaid does not address the need for specialized inpatient rehabilitation for TBI and SCI. Coverage for outpatient services is so limited that few specialty rehab providers can offer outpatient services to this population.

The original request was reviewed by the South Carolina House Ways and Means Committee, which recommended funding of $4.5 million of the request. The House of Representatives is expected to approve the proposed budget, which will then be taken up by the Senate.

The South Carolina Brain Injury Leadership Council has identified adequate medical rehabilitation within the first 18 months following injury as one of the most critical issues facing persons with brain injury. The lack of appropriate public funding has restricted the development of specialized rehab services, with only one CARF accredited brain injury program within the state. The proposed funds would eventually increase the availability of serives to persons with brain injury over a larger portion of the state.

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