We are watching with interest several bills that affect the brain injury community:
- HB 593 (Sickles) and HB 1064 (Willett) would have directed the Department of Medical Assistance Services to amend the state Medicaid plan to add neurobehavioral and neurorehabilitation facilities for individuals with traumatic brain injuries and neurocognitive disorders. The bills require the creation of a Medicaid waiver to support home and community-based services for individuals with traumatic brain injuries or neurocognitive disorders. The bills were rolled together and approved by the House Committee on Health and Human Resources but were tabled in the HHR subcommittee of Appropriations
- HB 888 (Watts) and SB 176 (Favola) prohibit mental health facilities from admitting anyone whose behavior is solely connected to a neurobehavioral disability. This is a recommendation of a recent JLARC study. Both bills were amended to add a reenactment clause (meaning that the bill has to be re-approved next year) and add a stakeholder group to assess how to carry out the requirements. The amended House Bill was approved by the House Committee on Health and Human Services and has been read twice in the full House, with a final vote expected later today. The amended Senate bill was approved by Senate Education and Health and now goes to the full Senate.
- HB 1064 (Willett) requires the Department of Medical Assistance Services to create a neurobehavioral science unit. The bill was approved by the House Committee on Health and Human Services but was tabled in the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Resources.
As noted, these bills are being decided largely due to their budgetary impact. It is important to follow the proposed budgets when they are released. In particular, we will be watching for the fate of the brain injury community initiatives relating to workforce retention and improved salaries. The budget committees from both sides will announce their proposed budgets on Sunday, February 18, 2024.
Our mission is to advance independence, choice, and self-determination; protect legal, human, and civil rights; and eliminate abuse, neglect, and discrimination of people with disabilities through zealous and uncompromising legal advocacy and representation. We educate policymakers about the impact of the decisions they are making on the disability community.
Please let us know of any legislative proposals or budget issues that you think we should be following. Contact us at ga@dlcv.org or info@dlvc.org or by calling 1-800-552-3962 or 1-804-225-2042.