Sam Howell Appears in Video from the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning
Sam Howell, a brain injury survivor, and his parents share an important message about distracted driving.
Urge Your Legislator to Vote No on HB 5013
Last Thursday, HB 5013 passed out of committee and now sits on the House floor for a vote. This bill will likely be brought up on the floor for a house vote this week, with a second reading on Wednesday and vote on Thursday. Mayor Duggan, a number prominent Detroit Business men and corporations, and members from the Michigan Chamber are working hard to advance this bill. Additionally, HB 5013 will increase the amount of Medicaid spending by $80 million in ten years.
IT IS TIME TO TAKE ACTION AND MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD.
We strongly encourage you to join us at the Capitol and oppose this legislation, which would:
- Authorize unprecedented dollar cap limitations on no-fault benefits
- Give insurance companies greater control over patients' medical care
- Greatly increases the power of the insurance companies while taking legal rights away from patients
- Only offers temporary premium rate reductions, if any at all
A strong showing of folks opposing this bill outside the house floor both days is important. Anticipate two long afternoons especially on Thursday. Session on Thursday starts at noon.
We will meet, receive a short update, gather materials and have lunch across the street from the House Office Building at the Central Methodist Church basement, 215 North Capitol from 11:00 AM until 2:00 PM on Wednesday and from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM on Thursday. Salad, pizza, and beverages will be provided on Wednesday at about 11:45 AM. Lunch on Thursday will be ready about 11:00 AM prior to the start of a noon House session.
We need your help if we are going to make sure this bill is defeated. If able, we strongly encourage you to join us. If you are unable, there are still ways you can help and make your voice heard.
- Email your legislators. We’ve provided a pre-written form letter (link no longer available), but feel free to make changes or write your own letter and send it. If you write your own, be sure they know your situation and what you stand to lose if this passes.
- Call your legislators.We’ve provided talking points (link no longer available), but feel free to make changes or include your own. Be sure they know your situation and what you stand to lose if this passes.
- Use social media to share your position and stories regarding your health care situation and be sure to use the hashtags #ProtectNoFault and #NO5013. Tell your story and let people know that the care being received would be impossible under the Duggan-Leonard plan.
Help us protect defend the system of care critical to so many Michiganders who have been, and unfortunately will be, auto accident survivors and their families.
Keep Up the Letter Writing
Following the success of our letter writing campaign at the Advocacy Station during the Fall Conference, BIAMI and Rainbow Rehab are going to continue the letter writing. During the Fall Conference, we were able to send over 1,000 letters. We want to keep that momentum going! Got to our letter writing page to submit yours today.
“STATE CHAMPS!” Highlights Concussions
This past Sunday, "STATE CHAMPS!" aired a special on concussions. While this program is usually directed at teens. this episode was made with parents of student athletes in mind. It details what concussions are, its signs and symptoms, what Michigan's high schools are doing to make all sports as safe as possible, and what parents can do to help their kids.
Many, many thanks to BIAMI member Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher and The Sports Neurology Clinic, as well as the Michigan high School Athletic Association, for their outstanding collaboration on this piece entitled, "Concussion and the Modern Athlete." Well done!
Legislative Update: BIAMI & CABT Partners Win 1st Round in Defeating Heavy Truck Legislation
Comparison of truck sizes
CABT, the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks, strongly supported by BIAMI, successfully kept an amendment allowing bigger trucks from inclusion in a Transportation, Housing and Urban Development bill voted on July 17th. This victory - the first in what will be a long, challenging battle - is especially notable because of powerful lobbying from big truck proponents FedEx, UPS, and Amazon.
BIAMI opposes "Double 33s" because research and traffic safety data demonstrate that their enormous size and poor braking ability cause significantly more accidents and deaths than even the double trailer trucks now on our roads. And the major damage they do to roads and bridges would cost Michigan taxpayers a fortune.
BIAMI promises to keep the fight going, and we urge your support of CABT's effort. Learn more on the CABT site.
No-Fault: Fix It, Don’t Nix It
"Bad Behavior Also Applies to Insurance Companies"
Thanks to the FREEP's JC Reindl for an informative overview of Michigan's auto no-fault situation. The series shines in underscoring the unethical and often illegal behavior of certain lawyers, facilities, doctors, and hospitals. But bad behavior also applies to insurance companies, which routinely delay or deny claims, dispute medically valid diagnoses, and do everything possible to avoid fulfilling their contractual obligations - all while raking in enormous profits and jacking up costs for other providers that keep premiums rising.
For us at the Brain Injury Association of Michigan, the bottom line is that neither Michigan drivers, nor the State itself, can afford eliminating auto no-fault's catastrophic accident coverage. But significant savings can be achieved by 1) eliminating fraud; 2) forcing insurers to reveal rate-setting data; and 3) looking at all components of our insurance premiums - especially collision coverage. The result could help lower premiums statewide and still protect the catastrophically injured.
Thomas Constand
President and CEO of the Brain Injury Association of Michigan
To see this letter and others published in the Detroit Free Press, click here.
