What did the Iowa Legislature accomplish for Brain Injury in its most recent session?

What was accomplished?

Thanks to a bill introduced by Representative Joel Fry, it eliminated reference to a monthly fiscal cap for Home and Community Based Services in the Brain Injury Waiver.

 

Why is this important?

1. The prior language read: “The total cost of brain injury waiver services, excluding the cost of case management and home and vehicle modifications, shall not exceed $3,013.08 per month.”
2. This language was obsolete within the current managed care environment.
3. $3,013 was never reflective of actual costs under the brain injury waiver.
4. Prior to Managed Care, the Iowa Department of Human Services managed brain injury costs in excess of this “cap” through an “exception to policy” system.
5. However, the Managed Care companies regularly restricts services to this artificial “cap”.