SD15 - Access to State-Funded Brain Injury Services in Virginia


Executive Summary:
Item 21F of the 2006 Appropriation Act directed JLARC to report on access to community-based brain injury services in Virginia.

State funding increases to the Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) resulted in more than 1,000 persons accessing needed services in FY 2007. Persons with brain injury appear to benefit from State-contracted case management and clubhouse/day programs.

Approximately 150,000 Virginians could have a long-term disability as a result of a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Geography and service availability limit access, and some needed services are unavailable. Also, it is estimated that thousands of TBI survivors have neurobehavioral problems. Some of these individuals have severe behavioral problems requiring intensive treatment, but treatment is only available in 20 beds statewide.

To facilitate the provision of brain injury services, improvements are needed to Virginia’s brain injury registry. Such improvements could result in more complete data collection, elimination of duplicate hospital reporting requirements, and improvement in DRS’ planning activities.

The extent to which the State provides brain injury services is a policy choice. If additional resources are available, the State may want to first address the needs of those with the most severe functional disabilities.