Health Management Connect Meets with Legislators Re: Brain Injury Awareness

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month.  Earlier in the month we went to Jefferson City and met with Representative Jeanne Kirkton-House District 091 & Senator Eric Schmitt-Senatorial District 015, as well as Representative Rachel Storch-House District 064 & Rebecca Payne McClanahan-House District 02 to dialogue about brain injury, prevention and current legislature in the house and senate.  This includes one brought by concerned coaches and others involved with athletes who suffer concussions while playing games in various very physical sports.  Also along for this important meeting was Linda Hobkirk, RN, CCM, and president/owner of Choice Care Management, LLC.

Each year in the United States, there are approximately 135,000 brain injuries (including concussions), suffered from playing sports and other recreational activities, that are treated in emergency rooms.  Bringing awareness to this issue is important to those of us in case management because of the care needed and possible lasting effects of these injuries.

At the end of April, we will be traveling to Washington, D.C. with the CMSA to lobby for the Case Management Model Act and Nursing License Compact Act.  The main thrust of this visit is to hopefully convey to Congress how important the role of case management is in assisting to deliver quality healthcare in an effective way.

The following is a description of what the Case Management Model Act is intended to accomplish, taken from the outline of the Act itself:

The Case Management Model Act establishes the key elements of a comprehensive Case Management Program that should be implemented at both the federal and state levels. The Case Management Society of America (CMSA) encourages public policymakers to review and use the provisions of this CM Model Act for legislative and regulatory initiatives geared to reducing health care costs, improving the coordination and transitions of care, enhancing quality, and promoting better clinical outcomes.

Case Managers are health care professionals and pioneers of health care change. They serve as health care team leaders that open up new areas of thought, research and development. Case Managers positively impact and improve Consumer well-being and health care outcomes.

Areas within the Act that are addressed include: Regulatory Compliance, Training Programs, Quality Management, and Consumer Protection.

If you would like further information regarding the Case Management Model Act, please feel free to contact us.