STATE INFO

Certification of Indiana Brain Injury Specialists: The American Academy for the Certification of Brain Injury Specialists, a Brain Injury Association of America committee, has partnered with brain injury experts to design a credentialing process. This is based on state of the art theories and treatment approaches from multiple disciplines. Two levels of certification are: Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainer (CBIST) & Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS). The BIA of Indiana is pleased to announce seminars for those interested in Certified Brain Injury Specialist credentials. For more info call: 317-233-6000. _________________________________________________ Legislative News: “HB 1813” develops the spinal cord & brain injury registry & research board to advise the state department of health & plans to fund spinal cord & brain injury research & grants. The bill also creates the spinal cord & brain injury fund to be funded with additional court fees for certain motor vehicle violations & an additional motorcycle registration fee. HB 1813 has the potential to raise $8 million per year. This would be for research that occurs in Indiana– so the money and jobs stay in state. The research would be related to acute management of traumatic injuries, medical complications, & neuronal recovery. The impact of the bill is huge. Many individuals with spinal cord & brain injuries end up in the Medicaid system. Decreasing costs has the potential to save millions in the future. Many individuals with spinal cord & brain injuries end up in the Medicaid system. Decreasing costs has the potential to save millions in the future. If the research remains attached to HB 1001, it would pass through the following steps (general overview): HB 1001 is ready for what is called the “2nd Reading” before the full House. There will be discussions regarding all aspects of the bill, amendments, etc. Then it would go to a “3rd Reading” which is the actual yes/no vote by all members of the House. Once it passes out of the House, it will move to the Senate, & assigned to the Senate Appropriations Committee (Chaired by Senator Robert Meeks). It will go through committee process. It will then move from the committee to the Senate for 2nd & 3rd Readings (just as in the House). The bill approved by the Senate usually doesn’t have the same language as the bill approved by the House, so it goes back to the House to agree on changes. Often, the House does not agree with all of the changes, so the bill would then move to a committee consisting of 2 House and 2 Senate members (one from each party). This 4-person committee will discuss until they come to agreement. These final changes will also need approval from the full House and full Senate. At this point, the bill goes to the Governor for signature. Final day of session is April 29th. The portion addressing the funding for SCI/TBI research could be removed at any point in the process so it’s important to continue to urge representatives and senators for support. It is possible that we will not know a final outcome until April 29th.