PRESS ADVISORY
Patients, Families, Service Providers to Testify at Assembly Hearing on Brain Injury Services
On Thursday, October 8, the Assembly Health Committee and Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Committee will hold a joint hearing on traumatic brain injury (TBI) services in New York State. Over 40 witnesses are scheduled to testify, including state Department of Health representatives, patients with brain injuries and their families, service providers, and medical experts.
Every year, brain injuries caused by trauma result in more than 2,000 deaths and 19,000 hospital admissions in New York. Thousands of New Yorkers live with brain injury and its consequences. In some cases, symptoms may not even be noticed or considered severe at the time of injury.
New York’s Medicaid “TBI Waiver” program provides Medicaid services for TBI patients in the home. The state’s plan to transfer all these services into managed care plans has raised concerns among patients, families, health care providers, and legislators about the adequacy and appropriateness of services. In response, the Department of Health has agreed to delay the scheduled transition until January 1, 2017, and to form a work group to discuss this transition.
Witnesses are expected to speak on topics including the incidence, severity, and consequences of TBI; treatment and service appropriateness and availability, including the rights of patients sent out-of-state; and issues relating to the transition of the TBI Waiver program to managed care.
What: Public hearing on traumatic brain injury services
Who:
Richard N. Gottfried, Health Committee Chair
Aileen M. Gunther, Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities Committee Chair
Other legislators
Patient advocates including self-advocates
NYS Department of Health
Service providers
Medical experts
Where:
Legislative Office Building, Hearing Room C, 198 State Street, Albany, NY 12210
When: Thursday, October 8, 10:30 AM
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