Post on 20-May-2018
©2015 Acquired Brain Injury Network of Pennsylvania, Inc.
PERMISSION GRANTED TO PHOTOCOPY AND DISTRIBUTE UNCHANGED AND AT NO CHARGE TO ALL WHO ARE INTERESTED.
ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY NETWORK NEWS April 1, 2015—2015/#04—99th Issue 215.699.2139, 800.516.8052, Fx: 215.699.5139
2275 Glenview Drive, Lansdale PA 19446.6082
info@abin-pa.org www.abin-pa.org
“Empowering Survivors and Families to Rebuild Their Lives.”
Last Call for Registration!
CELEBRATE & CONNECT:
ABIN-PA’s 8TH ANNIVERSARY
PHILADELPHIA LUNCHEON
Saturday, April 11, 2015
11:30 AM—3:30 PM
GUESTS: Representative Tom Murt
Representative Tim Briggs
SPEAKERS
(See page 3):
Managing Your Money
Mary Beth Morgan, Liberty Resources
Recovering Thru Music
Joe Romano, Music Therapist
Epilepsy After Brain Injury
Susan Bolno, Epilepsy Foundation
REGISTRATION DUE NOW!
USE FORM ON PAGE 10 or Call.
REGISTER ONLINE by credit card. only
SCHOLARSHIPS— make your request by
phone or email (info@abin-pa.org).
EXHIBITORS & SPONSORS Print form online or request by email.
Also looking for Door Prize, Silent
Auction & Basket Raffle Items
CROWNE PLAZA PHILADELPHA WEST
4010 City Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19131
(215) 458-2123, www.cpphilawest.com
INDEX—IN THIS ISSUE
1. Philly & Pittsburgh Luncheons; Index
2. Events; March Board Meeting
3. Philadelphia 4/11 Speakers; Donors
4. Greetings; Resources
5. Pittsburgh 5/30 Speakers; ABIN-PA Roster
6. Frustration; Ad Rates; Funding; Mission
7. PA Veterans’ Benefit; Homeopathy
8. HealthChoices Medicaid Expansion
9. Children’s Rehabilitation
10. Register; Sign Up; Donate
SHOP AT AMAZON
SMILE ——
CHECK ABIN-PA
HomePage
Register by May 23rd!
CELEBRATE & CONNECT: ABIN-PA’s 8TH ANNIVERSARY
PITTSBURGH LUNCHEON
Saturday, May 30, 2015
11:30 AM—3:30 PM
SPEAKERS (See Page 5): Constance Haber, DC - Chiropractic,
Interactive Metronome, Thermography
Betsy Reiling, MPH, CCH - Homeopathy
Hans Lessman, OD - Mobilize Your Recovery
By Improving Functional Vision
Awards, 50/50, Silent Auction,
Basket Raffle (Donations Welcome!)
MENU: Veggies & Assorted Dips, Cucumber & Tomato
Salad with Fresh Mint, Braised Brisket of Angus
Beef with Molasses Based Barbeque Sauce,
Pecan Crusted Baked Chicken, Penne Tossed in
Fresh Marinara Sauce, Macaroni & Cheese, Fresh
Vegetable Medley, Freshly Baked Cookies
CLASS Building, Swissvale
1400 Braddock Ave., Pittsburgh PA
©2015 Acquired Brain Injury Network of Pennsylvania, Inc.
PERMISSION GRANTED TO PHOTOCOPY AND DISTRIBUTE UNCHANGED AND AT NO CHARGE TO ALL WHO ARE INTERESTED.
ABIN-PA NETWORK NEWS—April 1, 2015—Page 2
EVENTS
April 11—Philadelphia Luncheon—pg. 1, 3
April 27—Norristown Area Brain Injury
Support Group, 6:30—8:00 pm, Mercy
Suburban, DeKalb Pk (near Germantown)
May 14—Plymouth Meeting Friends
School—Using Homeopathy to Recover
from Brain Injury, Peter Prociuk, MD. pg. 7.
May 30—Pittsburgh—ABIN-PA’s 8th
Anniversary Luncheon—pg. 1, 5
June 20—Blue Bell—Military Families
Appreciation Day—Free—includes lunch.
Montgomery County Community College.
Come to our table!
Sept—Walk/Run/Roll ???
ABIN-PA’S MARCH
BOARD MEETING
Board Members Present: Barry Childress, Barb
Dively, Erikka Johnston, Tom Kisling,
Madelaine Sayko, Joan Steinberg.
Others Present: John Dively, Jean Hurd,
Sheryll Poris.
1. Presentation by Jean Hurd—discussion on
future directions for ABIN-PA as to staff,
space, and funding.
2. February closing balance $18,830.59.
3. PayChex details to go to QuickBooks.
4. 990 EZ—awaiting filed copy.
5. Family Services Lease expires June 30,
checking around for any options.
6. Received copyright for Handbook.
7. Sent report to Inglis on ACE utilization.
8. Volunteer Structure Workgroup—Barb to
prepare report of two meetings.
9. March —1,336 newsletters sent.
10. Plastic Wallet Cards ordered.
11. Brain Injury Coalition planning legislative
breakfast—Barb sent draft handout.
12. Brain Injury Coalition met with legislative
staff on Safety in Youth Sports study.
13. March 10—Crisis Intervention Training for
Police. Northampton Community College
14. March 11—Coatesville VA—Info table.
15. March 13—UPenn conference—Info table
16. March 18—Meeting at Salus University
17. April 16—Anna Marie Childress to testify at
Office of Long Term Living Budget hearing
at the Capitol in Harrisburg.
18. June 4—Lebanon ADRC LINK.
BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE 2-4 pm, Sundays by Phone
Call-in: 857-216-6700 PassCode:127105
Apr 19, May 17, Jun 14, Jul 19, Aug 16,
Sep 20, Oct 18, Nov15, Dec13
PLEASE ATTEND!
Main Line Rehabilitation Associates, Inc.
Home & Community Based
Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy Serving Eastern Pennsylvania and
the Greater Pittsburgh Area
www.mainline-rehab.com
877- 480-6714
Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy
Rooted in
Hope
Results
Achievement
©2015 Acquired Brain Injury Network of Pennsylvania, Inc.
PERMISSION GRANTED TO PHOTOCOPY AND DISTRIBUTE UNCHANGED AND AT NO CHARGE TO ALL WHO ARE INTERESTED.
ABIN-PA NETWORK NEWS—April 1, 2015—Page 3
THANK YOU
TO OUR DONORS!
FEBRUARY
Barry Childress, John Dively, Robert
Drucker, Kay Rowe, Mark Steinberg,
Mary Webb
MARCH
Robert Drucker, Anthony Fasano, Jean
Hurd, Elizabeth Morrisey, Margot Teleki,
Peggy Vietro
CORPORATIONS
Merck Foundation
Hanover Twp. Community Center
LUNCHEON SPONSORS
Silver—Beechwood NeuroRehab
Copper—Goodsir Chiropractic
ABIN-PA LUNCHEON SPEAKERS
APRIL 11th—PHILADELPHIA
Mary Beth Morgan, Liberty Resources -
Managing Your Money to Meet Your Goals
Liberty Resources provides classes in Financial
Management to help people with disabilities
“increase knowledge and skills in handling
money, budgeting, using bank services,
proper credit and debit card use, maintaining
records, filing tax returns, obtaining insurance,
and protecting assets from fraud and theft.”
Use your money to reach your goals. www.libertyresources.org
Joe Romano, Developmental Music -
Stimulating Your Brain To Recover
From Dr. Steve Gallop, a speaker at our
October 2014 Alternatives Conference, “Joe
combines music with movement, visual
processing and other techniques he created,
to help people enhance their visual
information processing abilities. Joe has
enhanced the quality of life of many people
struggling with developmental, behavioral
and learning challenges.” http://vision-therapy-pa.com/blog/
b_30373_my_friend_joe_romano.html
Susan Bolno, Epilepsy Foundation -
Managing Epilepsy After Brain Injury
About 40% of those who experience a
traumatic brain injury will have a seizure at
some later point in their lives. These seizures
are frequently different from what people
expect. Nevertheless, “If you or someone you
love has epilepsy, you may be wondering how
it affects day-to-day life. Will this keep me from
doing the things I enjoy most? How will it
impact my family, relationships, work or
school? In order to live a happy and full life it’s
important to learn how epilepsy can affect
you, what your rights and responsibilities are
and how to find support & resources.” http://www.efepa.org/
©2015 Acquired Brain Injury Network of Pennsylvania, Inc.
PERMISSION GRANTED TO PHOTOCOPY AND DISTRIBUTE UNCHANGED AND AT NO CHARGE TO ALL WHO ARE INTERESTED.
ABIN-PA NETWORK NEWS—April 1, 2015—Page 4
Greetings!
Lots happening this month—many phone
calls asking for information, getting ready for
the Philly luncheon, visiting properties to see if
we can find a slightly larger office, and
working on increasing the availability of
children’s rehab.
Also almost ready to share information on our
new volunteer application process— a
criminal background search, application,
interview, references, and passing an open-
book test after a short training course.
Our Norristown Area Brain Injury Support
Group finally met again after two snow
months! Working toward our individual goals,
exchanging ideas, and learning about the
brain. Enjoying bug juice & cookies thanks to
Mercy Suburban Hospital!
Barb Dively
RESOURCES
ABIN-PA InfoLine 1.800.516.8052
ACA healthcare.gov 1.800.32825.96
Adult & Sr. Protective Services 1.800.490.8505
Aging/Disability Resource Ctrs 1.866.286.3636
Area Agency on Aging (county) Blue Pages
Brain STEPS (Intermediate Unit) Blue Pages
CareerLink (employment services) Blue Pages
Centers for Independent Living 1.717.920.0530
Client Assistance (OVR, CIL’s) 1.888.745.2357
Consumer Protection (state) 1.800.441.2555
Crime Victims Compensations 1.800.233.2339
Defense/Veterans Brain Injury 1.866.966.1020
Disability Rights Network 1.800.692.7443
Domestic Violence Hotline 1.800.799.7233
Epilepsy Foundation-Eastern 1.800.887.7165
Epilepsy Foundation-Western 1.800.361.5885
Head Injury Program (state) 1.717.772.2762
Health Law Project—phlp.org, 1.800.274.3258
Housing—sdhp.org 1.877.550.7347
Legal Aid (low income) Blue Pages
Legal Clinic for the Disabled 1.215.587.3350
Meals on Wheels mealcall.org
Medical Assistance 1.866.542.3015
Medicare Coverage 1.800.633.4227
(Parts A & B have in-home services)
Medicare Denials 1.800.322.1914
Social Security 1.800.772.1213
Special Education Consult Line 1.800.879.2301
Special Kids Network 1.800.986.4550
Vocational Rehabilitation Blue Pages
Voting Issues 1.877.868.3772
Waiver Enrollment-PA IEB 1.877.550.4227
Waiver HelpLine (state) 1.800.757.5042
Women’s Law Project-Eastern 1.215.928.9801
Women’s Law Project-Western 1.412.281.2892
©2015 Acquired Brain Injury Network of Pennsylvania, Inc.
PERMISSION GRANTED TO PHOTOCOPY AND DISTRIBUTE UNCHANGED AND AT NO CHARGE TO ALL WHO ARE INTERESTED.
ABIN-PA ROSTER
Board President—Barbara Dively
Vice President—Barry Childress
Treasurer—Megan Herlihy
Secretary—Erikka Johnston
Directors Tom Kisling, George Matwiejczyk, Dan
Rohrback, Madelaine Sayko,
Joan Steinberg.
Staff Executive Director—Barbara Dively
Information Technology—John Dively
Payroll—Megan Herlihy
Voice Messaging—Anna Marie Childress
Clerical Employee—Joyce Shaffer
Advisory Panel Gene Bianco; Michael Durst, Esq.;
Tom Felicetti, PhD; Jean Hurd, PhD;
Shannon Juengst, PhD; Roger Margulies;
Elaine Seiler.
ABIN-PA NETWORK NEWS—April 1, 2015—Page 5
ABIN-PA LUNCHEON SPEAKERS MAY 30th—PITTSBURGH
Constance Haber, DC - Chiropractic,
Interactive Metronome, Thermography Dr. Haber has practiced in the Pittsburgh area
since 1965. She has additional certifications in
biofeedback therapy, pain management,
acupuncture and Chinese medicine and is on the
post-graduate teaching faculty at the National
University of Health Sciences. She has four US
patents for her work in photon therapy and has
four Institutional Review Board Supervised Studies. www.ampmcenter.com/about.html
Betsy Reiling, MPH, CCH -
Homeopathy “I realized my calling as a
Homeopath after I
contracted tropical illnesses
while serving in the Peace
Corps in Africa. Conventional western medicine
could only offer me toxic treatments that weren’t
effective. My search for a non-toxic solution to my
illness led me to discover the power of
homeopathy. This experience taught me the
value of health, and respect for our bodies innate
ability to heal.” www.betsyreilingwellness.com
Hans Lessman, OD – Light & Vision Therapy “Our independent program offers a unique blend
of vision, light, and cognitive therapy. We believe
vision can improve and you along with it.”
visiondevelopmentinstitute.com/eye-exam. Light
therapy (syntonics or optometric phototherapy)
has been used clinically for over 70 years in the
field of optometry with continued success in the
treatment of visual dysfunctions, including
strabismus (eye turns), amblyopia (lazy eye),
focusing and convergence problems, learning
disorders, and the aftereffects of stress and
trauma. In recent years, Syntonics has been shown
to be effective in the treatment of brain injuries
and emotional disorders.” www.collegeofsyntonicoptometry.com
©2015 Acquired Brain Injury Network of Pennsylvania, Inc.
PERMISSION GRANTED TO PHOTOCOPY AND DISTRIBUTE UNCHANGED AND AT NO CHARGE TO ALL WHO ARE INTERESTED.
ABIN-PA’s MISSION ABIN-PA is dedicated to increasing public
awareness about acquired brain injury and
to providing support, education, information,
advocacy and other services for individuals
with acquired brain injury and their families.
ABIN-PA NETWORK NEWS—April 1, 2015—Page 6
2015 NEWSLETTER & WEB ADS
Reach 1,324 subscribers plus 550 each month.
Archived on website. Shared on expo tables.
Ad agreement on request. Fee for formatting.
FRUSTRATION By Denise Patterson
Don't you get frustrated when you aren't
understood?
Let's say you want to order some food at a
restaurant. Whoever is taking your order
might get it wrong. That can be very
frustrating!
Let's say you are at a doctors office. If you
are not understood, not only can it be
frustrating, it can be life-threatening!
See, when you can't talk, you get more
frustrated.
I have a very hard time talking. Maybe
because for the last 20 years I haven't done
much talking.
It started because I didn't like my voice.
Now, after all these years of not talking, I've
kind of gotten stuck.
Well, see it's a little easier for me because I
know finger spelling, for deaf people. And I
taught my family the sign language
alphabet.
Frustration can be a hard thing to deal
with. You have to try and relax!
If you have a computer, you can look on
the internet to try and find different
techniques for relaxing. For example, yoga.
Or sit quietly with no distractions. You can
meditate.
I hope that helps alleviate some
frustration.
Page
Size
Web
Link
11
Issues
Print Ad
Width x Height
1/8 No $665 3 7/16 x 2 3/16
1/8 Yes $965 3 7/16 x 2 3/16
1/4 No $1,109 3 7/16 x 4 1/2
1/4 Yes $1,409 3 7/16 x 4 1/2
1/2 No $1,849 7 1/8 x 4 1/2
1/2 Yes $2,149 7 1/8 x 4 1/2
Web Only $800 Name/Logo 6wds
ASSISTANCE & REHABILITATION
HEAD INJURY PROGRAM—717-772-2762
- TBI only, age 21+, $100,000/1 year max.
WAIVERS—877-550-4227—lifetime
- CommCare (TBI only, age 21+)
- Independence (any disability, 18-59)
- OBRA (18-59, any disability that begins
before age 22).
©2015 Acquired Brain Injury Network of Pennsylvania, Inc.
PERMISSION GRANTED TO PHOTOCOPY AND DISTRIBUTE UNCHANGED AND AT NO CHARGE TO ALL WHO ARE INTERESTED.
PA VETERANS’ BENEFIT
Veterans or their eligible beneficiaries must
apply by August 31 to receive a special one-
time payment of $75 to $5,000 from the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for those
who were on active duty in the Persian Gulf
of Operations from August 2, 1990 to August
31, 1991.
The payment is $75 per month of active
service for a maximum of $525. There is an
additional benefit of $5,000 for prisoners of
war or death during “active service.”
If you know a veteran of Desert Storm and/or
Desert Shield, please share this information
with them or one of their family members.
For details, call toll-free at 866-458-9182 or go
to: www.persiangulfbonus.state.pa.us.
ABIN-PA NETWORK NEWS—April 1, 2015—Page 7
USING HOMEOPATHY TO
REVERSE BRAIN INJURY
May 14: 7:00—9:00 p.m.
Peter Prociuk, MD. Dr. Prociuk spoke at our October 2014
Alternatives Conference in Philadelphia. He is
is a licensed physician (M.D.) with Board
Certification in Internal Medicine and
maintains a homeopathic practice
in West Chester, PA
www.drpeterprociuk.com
MEETING LOCATION:
Plymouth Meeting Friends School
2150 Germantown Pike
Plymouth Meeting PA
www.pmfs1780.org
©2015 Acquired Brain Injury Network of Pennsylvania, Inc.
PERMISSION GRANTED TO PHOTOCOPY AND DISTRIBUTE UNCHANGED AND AT NO CHARGE TO ALL WHO ARE INTERESTED.
ABIN-PA NETWORK NEWS—April 1, 2015—Page 8
HEALTHCHOICES MEDICAID EXPANSION UPDATE March 2015—See www.HealthChoicesPa.com for more info.
The Department of Human Services (DHS) is expanding its Medicaid program, also
known as Medical Assistance (MA). Eligibility rules will not change. Adults 21 years of
age and older will transition into a single new Adult benefit package. The health
screening tool will be eliminated.
In the last week of March, current MA recipients will be notified by HealthChoices
Managed Care Organizations and DHS that they will transition to the new Adult
Benefit package on April 27.
On April 27, Private Coverage Option (PCO) recipients who were covered by MA in
December 2014 will move to MA and receive notices. On July 28, all remaining PCO
recipients will move to MA and receive notices.
On April 27, MA recipients currently in the Interim Healthy and Healthy Plus plans will
move to the new Adult benefit package.
©2015 Acquired Brain Injury Network of Pennsylvania, Inc.
PERMISSION GRANTED TO PHOTOCOPY AND DISTRIBUTE UNCHANGED AND AT NO CHARGE TO ALL WHO ARE INTERESTED.
INCREASING ACCESS TO CHILDREN’S REHABILITATION By Barbara Dively
As you may be aware, Pennsylvania deems all disabled children under age 21 to be
Medicaid-eligible. As a result, federal Medicaid law requires Pennsylvania to provide all
necessary services under its Early & Periodic Screening, Diagnosis & Treatment (EPSDT)
definition, specifically in section1396dr5.
Unfortunately, ABIN-PA discovered that children under 21 were not receiving all necessary
services for brain injury rehabilitation. Instead, children were being accommodated within the
schools under BrainSTEPS and referred to behavioral health for services.
In contrast, brain injury rehabilitation is provided under physical health care through licensed
Occupational, Physical, and Speech/Language Therapists. Specifically, in 2005, CPT 97532 or
Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy (CRT) was determined to be evidence-based for cognitive
recovery by BlueCross BlueShield. Pennsylvania is providing this service to adults under the PA
DOH Head Injury Program (since 1985) and more recently under three DHS OLTL Medicaid
Waivers—Independence, OBRA, and Commcare.
Our investigation revealed that physical healthcare providers were not willing to have
occupational therapists provide CPT97532 to children under 21 unless that billing code was
included in the Medicaid State Plan. As a result, ABIN-PA asked the Office of Medical
Assistance Programs to add CPT97532 to the Medicaid State Plan in September of 2013. One
year later, in September 2014, the state responded that MA would pay for CPT97532 by a
licensed occupational therapist for children under 21.
Since then, ABIN-PA has not been able to find any occupational therapists who provide
CPT97532 to children or any children who receive CPT97532 under Medical Assistance as
outpatients. In fact, ABIN-PA has not located any professionals, children’s programs, or parents
who are aware of the need for ongoing rehab follow-ups to age 21 to maximize normal brain
development after this devastating injury. In addition, Montgomery County has been routinely
referring juvenile delinquents to behavioral health care without screening for brain injury.
Fortunately, the Department of Health brain injury screening project in Montgomery and Bucks
Counties is revealing that 50% of court-involved children have had a traumatic brain injury—
and Montgomery County Children, Youth & Families staff will soon be trained in brain injury.
The next goal is to connect children automatically to brain injury rehabilitation so that parents
see a path to recovery. We don’t’ want parents to choose mental health services over brain
injury rehabilitation—as was recently reported to me by a school district social worker.
Currently, ABIN-PA is polling graduate programs across the state and finding some allies
interested in promoting CPT97532 by OT’s for Medicaid-eligible children. We have also
reached out to the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association which is contacting its
members, and to the Special Needs Coordinators in MA physical health across the state.
ABIN-PA NETWORK NEWS—April 1, 2015—Page 9
©2015 Acquired Brain Injury Network of Pennsylvania, Inc.
PERMISSION GRANTED TO PHOTOCOPY AND DISTRIBUTE UNCHANGED AND AT NO CHARGE TO ALL WHO ARE INTERESTED.
ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY NETWORK
OF PENNSYLVANIA, INC.
2275 Glenview Drive
Lansdale PA 19446.6082
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
REGISTER, SIGN-UP, DONATE—April 1, 2015—Page 10 Mail to: ABIN-PA, 2275 Glenview Drive, Lansdale PA 19446.
* You can also register, donate or sign up for the newsletter online at www.abin-pa.org.
Date:_____________Name:____________________________________Phone:______________________
Address:______________________________________________City:________________State:___Zip:____
Apartment /Business:______________________________________ Survivor:___ Family:___ Other:___
Email:___________________________________________________ County:__________________________
*DONATION: Check #________ for $_________ Employer Match_____ United Way: #45813_____
In Memory Of:___________________________ Person to be notified:_____________________________
OR In Honor Of:___________________________________________________(Honoree will be notified.)
Address for Notice:_____________________________________City:______________State:___Zip:_____
PLEASE REGISTER ME FOR 4/11Philadelphia Luncheon Check #_______ Amount $________
____$85 Regular _____$55 Survivor _____$55 Family Member _____$20 Low Income
I need a scholarship because: _____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________ ABIN-PA is a 501(c)(3) Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation. Contributions are tax deductible. The official registration and financial
information of the Acquired Brain Injury Network of Pennsylvania, Inc., may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of
State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1 (800) 732.0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
NONPROFIT ORG
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