:: The Headliner

:: Oregon Prescription Drug Program

FREE prescription discount card

:: Washington State's new program for TBI survivors

New program helping Washington State traumatic brain injury survivors

:: Work Incentive Network (WIN) -

WIN is a free benefits and work incentives planning service provided by 6 Oregon Centers for Independent Living to people with disabilities who want to work

Information sheet

:: Important Notice

We know that brain injury often leads to cognitive challenges that can dramatically alter one’s life. Impaired attention, memory, and organizational skills affect the ability to perform basic tasks of daily living as well as complex job-related tasks. Social engagement is affected as well. All of these changes can lead to lost independence, jobs, and relationships. Cognitive rehabilitation is critical to helping survivors of brain injury learn new skills and compensations to manage cognitive deficits in order to increase independence and maximize quality of life. Speech-language pathologists, for example, provide a range of cognitive rehabilitation services, including evaluation and training in the use of external memory aids, organizational routines, and attention-concentration management strategies.

Unfortunately, private insurers do not routinely fund cognitive rehabilitation, leaving survivors without the financial means to pursue these services. In the past year, the Brain Injury Association of Oregon has supported the formation of a statewide coalition of professionals and agencies serving individuals with brain injury who have been denied coverage for cognitive rehabilitation services by private insurers, particularly Blue Cross-Blue Shield (BCBS) of Oregon, one of the largest insurers in the state. Denials are frequently based on the claim that there is insufficient research evidence to support that cognitive rehabilitation works; however, this claim is unfounded as there is abundant research showing that it does work.

The good news is that there are ways to address this unjust trend in policy. For example, in the state of Montana last year, a survivor who had been denied coverage under Blue Cross Blue Shield, appealed the decision through the external claims review process and won! Encouraged by this precedent, the BIAOR has supported the formation of a statewide coalition of professionals and agencies to learn more about this issue and to provide a resource for survivors who have been denied coverage.

If you or someone you know has been denied coverage for cognitive rehabilitation services, contact the

BIAOR at:

PO Box 549
Molalla OR 97038
503.740.3155
800-544-5243

biaor@biaoregon.org

have YOU HAD a brain injury?
Call 1-800-544-5243

Our Annual Brain Injury Conference is

March 5th & 6th, 2010

REGISTER NOW!!!

The 8th Annual Pacific Northwest Brain Injury Conference 2010

Living with Brain Injury: Hope

March 4 - 6, 2010
Sheraton Airport Hotel
Portland, Oregon

You are invited to participate in the 8th Annual Pacific Northwest Brain Injury Conference Living with Brain Injury: Hope to be held March 4-6, 2010 in Portland Oregon at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel. This conference will provide the latest medical research, clinical applications, techniques and education to survivors, family members, and medical and legal professionals across numerous fields and disciplines working with people with brain injury. The latest research, medications and techniques for doctors and medical professionals working with individuals with brain injury. The tracks will look at medical clinical issues, blast injuries, behavioral challenges, and much more. Presenters will be from Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, California, Alaska, Hawaii, New Mexico, Wyoming, Maryland and Washington DC. Speakers will be Federal and State Legislators, from State Agencies in the Pacific Western States, the Oregon Reintegration Team, the Veterans Administration, Brain Injury Associations from 9 states, and survivors, family members, medical, professional and legal experts from throughout the country.

Pre-Conference Workshop and Training
Thursday, March 4, 2010 8:00 – 4:00 pm $350 for Certification- $50 for Class OnlyBehavioral Challenges that Follow

TThe purpose of this workshop is to provide a broad overview of brain injury, how it affects the individual, and the relationships between brain injury and the behavioral challenges that may follow. While neurological, physical and cognitive changes that occur following an injury clearly affect behavior, social and environmental factors often have equal or greater influence. This is especially true in day, residential, community based and other program formats. The manner in which a person is treated can contribute to problem behaviors. How do you handle these changes? The workshop will explore these factors and discuss how they apply in home, community and professional service settings. There will be a special emphasis on promoting positive supports to help all individuals succeed. This is not only relevant for people who experience disability following brain injury, but also for caretakers, providers and other members of a person’s circle of support. The training will offer the opportunity to study for and take the national examination to become a Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS).

Conference Objectives
At the completion of the conference, participants will be able to:

Implement strategies designed to significantly reduce brain injury-related mortality and morbidity in all communities.

Summarize recent brain injury-related research with corresponding practical application. Identify clinical management practices, specifically new prevention, diagnosis, and treatment guidelines.

Describe public health interventions to reduce the impact of brain injury among different types of racial and ethnic populations and settings (e.g., school, workplace, community).

Understand health care delivery trends and their impact on long-term brain injury management, acute care, and prevention.

Analyze past brain injury-related interventions and weigh their value in today’s world. Implement health communication strategies and know how to more effectively reach target populations and raise awareness.

Summarize brain injury data, including mortality, morbidity, and risk factor prevalence.

Create networking opportunities and build partnerships with key brain injury researchers, clinicians, and prevention professionals.

Brain Injury Association of Oregon, Inc. (BIAOR)r> PO Box 549
Molalla OR 97038

Phone: 503.740.3155
Outside the local area: 800.544.5243
Fax: 503.961.8730
e-Mail: biaor@biaoregon.org

:: Professional Members & Sponsors

Professional Members

have YOU HAD a brain injury? Call 1-800-544-5243

have YOU HAD a brain injury?
Call 1-800-544-5243