Giffords' rehab fully covered, but not so for other victims of brain injury

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41315890/ns/health-health_care/

Giffords' rehab fully covered, but not so for other victims of brain injury
By JoNel Aleccia Health writer
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Family and staff have cut back on frequent updates of Giffords' progress at TIRR Memorial Hermann hospital, saying they'll report "important news" when it happens. What is clear, however, is that her care at one of the country's top five rehab sites will be paid for through a federal workers compensation program, providing essentially unlimited time and money to help her regain cognitive, physical and social functions.
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About 1.7 million people suffer traumatic brain injuries every year in the U.S., according to government statistics, with about a quarter resulting in moderate to severe cases. Of the 275,000 hospitalized for brain injuries every year, about two-thirds are sent home with no further medical treatment, Ashley said.

Of those who do receive care, it’s likely to be far less than they need — or expect. Most people with private or public health insurance assume that they’re covered for traumatic injury and the rehabilitation to recover from it — but they’re wrong, Ashley said.

“We estimate that fewer than 4 percent of patients who need this care actually get it,” said Ashley, who is co-founder and president of the Centre for Neuro Skills, which operates centers in California and Texas. “In the last several years, more policies have been written that exclude rehabilitation altogether.”


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