Take Action – Waiver Transition Plan Response Needed

On January 27, following months of workgroup meetings and discussion of this process, the Department of Health issued a draft transition plan for Traumatic Brain Injury and Nursing Home Transition and Diversion Waivers to go into the Managed Care. Download transition plan here. This transition plan is woefully inappropriate and does not reflect the many issues discussed throughout this process. Now is the time to speak out about the need to protect these programs.
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Become a Certified Brain Injury Specialist This June

Sign up for the June 7 CBIS Course in Saratoga Springs, NY!

BIANYS is offering a CBIS training course, including a 6-week email study course, culminating in a review class and exam on June 7 in Saratoga Springs, NY. The CBIS class is held the week of the BIANYS Professional Symposium and Annual Conference, providing the opportunity to receive continuing education programs following certification.

BIANYS provides the CBIS manual and a 6-week email study course. On June 7, CBIS Trainers Victoria Clingan and Karen Thomas will provide a review class (including lunch), followed by the CBIS exam.

CBIS participants also receive a subscription to the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation. Registration is $500 and application and payment must be received by April 1, 2016. Download the CBIS flyer for details and download the CBIS Class Application to register.

Community Supports BIANYS Rose Day Event

BIANYS extends a thank you to all of the Capital District organizations who participated in this year’s Rose Day event. Rose Day is a great way to show your support for the work of BIANYS and to celebrate the season with beautiful flowers. Organizations sold bouquets of flowers over the past month, and today, BIANYS representatives delivered gorgeous bouquets of flowers to participants.
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BIANYS Receives Advocacy Award

BIANYS is proud to announce that we have received the 2015 Brain Injury Association of America Award for Excellence for Advocacy. BIANYS Executive Director Eileen Reardon was presented with the Award by BIAA President and CEO Susan Connors at the BIAA Leadership Conference in Tampa, Florida. The award was given to BIANYS for our involvement in the National Advocacy Day in March in Washington DC.
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Assembly Holds Public Hearing on Brain Injury

The Assembly Committee on Health, Committee Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities and the Assembly Task Force on People with Disabilities held a public hearing on October 8 in Albany. The Committees and Task Force received oral and written testimony from patients and their families, clinicians, service providers, and the Department 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.

If you missed it, video of the hearing is available at http://nystateassembly.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=8&clip_id=2722 (first part of testimony) and  http://nystateassembly.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=9&clip_id=2723# (second part).

Please reach out to your Assembly member and let them know why they should support individuals with brain injury and the services needed to support them in the community. If you or a loved one are on the Waiver, please let them know why those services keep you/your loved one independent. Please be sure to sign up for the BIANYS email list and become a member to get action updates on this issue and many more.

If you submitted testimony for the hearing, please share it with BIANYS by emailing to Victoria Clingan, BIANYS Director of Engagement and Outreach (vclingan@bianys.org).