http://avbi.freepowerboards.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=127&sid=516537a3c603ba587becca958a2f4306

The Brain Injury Association of America in 2006 wrote a letter urging Tricare to cover cognitive therapy. The letter has some good information with the sources cited to scientifically support their position. The following is the link to the letter:

http://www.biausa.org/elements/policy/tricare_cog_rehab_talking_points.pdf

In the State of Texas alone, there are a number of post acute brain injury programs who could more than adequately provide cognitive services to a number of our Armed Services personnel but Tricare will not allow most if not all of the programs to become providers. Our assisted living assisted living facility licensure just like all the other post acute brain injury rehabilitation providers in Texas is the loop hole Tricare uses to deny The Transitional Learning Center TLC as a provider. In the state of Texas, post acute brain injury rehabilitation providers do not have their own specialty licensure. We are all licensed as an assisted living facility. Because of this, accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) becomes invaluable and gives post acute brain injury programs their credibility. CARF accreditation also allows us to contract with those insurance companies who actually play fair. Just look at their standards and you quickly realize that CARF does not certify custodial care facilities. Of course, insurance companies will always find the loophole. In Texas, state law (House Bill 1919) requires health plans within the state to cover cognitive rehabilitation as a treatment for individuals with brain injuries. Unfortunately, some insurance companies have found a loophole in House Bill 1919. I would be happy to provide you with a copy of the house bill if you are interested.

Recently I had the opportunity to meet numerous nurse case managers in Orlando who are employed by the different branches of our Armed Services to provide medical case management for injured combat military personnel. These case managers visited TLC’s booth to learn how we may be able to serve traumatically brain injured military personnel.

What particularly sparked their interest this year was our CARF accreditation as a post acute brain injury service provider. CARF happened to be at the conference and handed out a large 8X10 seal on glossy, quality stock paper to rehabilitation providers who are accredited to post at their booth. The case managers’ hopes were dashed as I explained that access to TLC’s brain injury program is almost non-existent to our Armed Service members injured in combat.

Furthermore, when you have a traumatic brain injury you are discharged from active duty and Tricare will refuse to pay for civilian post acute brain injury services because when the attitude is “The reality is, the study of the brain is an emerging science, and there still is much to be learned,” as Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, Army vice chief of staff, told the Armed Services Committee during a hearing about how the services are dealing with brain injuries and mental health problems. He also says, “Our science on the brain is just not as great as it is on other parts of the body. It’s not this well-developed science like you find with heart surgery.” I am not saying he is wrong but yet we utilize these soldiers to an exact science of war? There are 30 plus years of civilian studies on the brain. I wonder if it is a situation of the tail wagging the dog?

The Corps acts as if there is nothing wrong. They will even try to make you think you are crazy for even confronting them with what is known to be a problem. There are so many Marines suffering but they are afraid to speak up because they know what happens to the few of us that have cried out for help. The health care professionals who actually care have seen what happened to Dr. Manion so they are scared to speak up as well.

We kept trying to tell them that someone was going to take their life. Then, after it happens with Sgt Bagosy, they still try to point the finger of blame away from themselves. It’s only a matter of time before more lives are lost to the invisible wounds of PTSD and TBI. The only reason my Marine is still breathing is because I took matters into my own hands and stopped playing the Corps ridiculous game of denial. If you have a loved one who has served and is not himself, don’t just sit there. Start asking questions and hold the military accountable to take care of our troops. Don’t let the poor health care system, the stigma, and the arrogance of military leadership climbing the ladder of careerism destroy those who need help. I’ve been to three funerals for Marines who supposedly died with “non-combat related” injuries….. yeah, sure, whatever…..all three would still be here if they’d never gone to war in the first place.