Brain injury recognized as a chronic condition

In a significant win for the brain injury community, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has officially recognized traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a chronic health condition. This designation, effective January 2025, will be included in chronic special needs plans (C-SNPs) through the Medicare Advantage program. This change follows a Federal Register rule change earlier this year that added TBI to the list of chronic conditions. 

NIDILRR’s Traumatic Brain Injury Model System (TBIMS) Centers Program—which includes the UW TBI Model System—was instrumental in providing evidence that TBI is a chronic health condition. The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) has been advocating for this change for a long time and plans to continue working to ensure that brain injury is treated as a chronic condition by healthcare providers. 

Congratulations to all who worked toward this significant milestone in brain injury treatment.