HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 137

(By Delegate Hill and Delegate Pack)

[Introduced February 29, 2020]

Requesting a study of appropriate identification and medical and rehabilitative interventions for persons who sustain a traumatic brain injury.

Whereas, traumatic brain injury is a disruption in the normal functioning of the brain due to a bump, blow, jolt or penetrating head injury; and

Whereas, the leading causes of traumatic brain injury are motor vehicle crashes, falls, being struck by or against objects, and assault; and

Whereas, symptoms of a traumatic brain injury can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the extent of damage to the brain; and

Whereas, disabilities resulting from a traumatic brain injury depend upon the severity of the injury, the location of the injury, and the age and general health of the individual. Some common disabilities include problems with cognition, sensory processing, communication, and behavior or mental health; and

Whereas, approximately 1.7 million people in the US suffer a traumatic brain injury annually and while most of these injuries are mild, resulting in a short-term disruption, such as a concussion, many are severe, resulting in prolonged unconsciousness or amnesia and often result in permanent disability or death; and

Whereas, in addition to the emotional burden faced by family and friends, it is estimated that traumatic brain injury in the United States is estimated to have direct and indirect costs of $60 billion annually; and

Whereas, it is important to develop, within the limits of available resources, a comprehensive system designed to assist, educate and rehabilitate the person with a traumatic brain injury to attain and sustain the highest function and self-sufficiency possible using  community-based treatments, services and resources to the greatest possible degree; and

Whereas, it is equally important to undertake, within the limits of available resources, appropriate identification and medical and rehabilitative interventions for persons who sustain a traumatic brain injury, including, but not limited to, establishing services to assess the needs of persons who sustain a traumatic brain injury and to facilitate effective and efficient medical care, neurorehabilitation planning and reintegration and to improve the knowledge and skills of the medical community, including, but not limited to, emergency room physicians, psychiatrists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists and other professionals who diagnose, evaluate and treat traumatic brain injuries; and

Whereas, the Traumatic Brain Injury Waiver Program, as maintained by the Bureau for Medical Services, be continued to prevent the unnecessary institutionalization of persons by providing services and supports that are person-centered and promotes choice, independence, participant-directed, respect, dignity, and community integration; and

Whereas, traumatic brain injuries require intensive, consistent rehabilitation and this rehabilitation can best be provided in a residential traumatic brain injury rehabilitation facility; and

Whereas, many West Virginians who suffer traumatic brain injuries would greatly benefit from a residential traumatic brain injury specific rehabilitation facility or day program where this intensive, consistent, brain injury rehabilitation can be provided; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to conduct a study on the need for residential, brain injury specific rehabilitation facilities to provide intensive and consistent rehabilitation to meet the unique needs, challenges and issues facing persons who sustain a traumatic brain injury; and, be it

Further Resolved, that the report should be conducted by the West Virginia Bureau for Health Facilities and that it include studies of options for brain injury specific rehabilitation, the costs associated with these injuries, the potential need for anoxic brain injury specific rehabilitation, and the number of West Virginians with an anoxic brain injury; and, be it

Further Resolved, that the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the Legislature, on the first day of the regular session, 2021, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations together with drafts of any legislation to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

Further Resolved, that the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.