Indiana Brain Injury Report Says Resources Lacking

New light is being shed on the State of Indiana’s capability in providing care and treatment to those residents who experience traumatic brain injuries. A statistic from an organization called Generation Project estimated that Indiana tax payers spend $14 to $18 million a year in Medicaid costs, only to send brain injury patients to be treated at out of state care centers. Two hoosier mothers with sons who have serious brain impairments have recently come forward expressing their concern on the issue. They had no choice but to take their sons to Illinois and Michigan to receive the necessary care. As a result, one mother estimated that Indiana paid more than $250,000 in Medicaid costs for the treatment her son received in Michigan, and this is without considering the thousands of dollars the family paid out of their own pocket.

The author of the Generation Project’s report stated, “These services don’t exist in Indiana . . . It’s very fragmented. There’s no system of care for people with brain injuries.” Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) oversees the Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning, and they are feeling the heat from concerned hoosiers. However, spokesman Marcus Barlow believes Indiana is doing fine, stating, “Well, we don’t believe there is a lack of brain injury services in Indiana. We have a specialized Medicaid waiver.” He went on to state that “As the government, we’re not going to build hospitals. We’re just going to fund the care.”

It appears that the amount of Indiana tax money that is being supplied to neighboring states could be better invested if, instead, used to build brain care facilities within the state’s border and supply these centers with certified doctors and care takers. This would seem to generate millions of dollars in revenue within the state of Indiana, especially in the long run, and make it much more convenient for fellow hoosiers to receive the medical attention they need to receive the proper care and attention. Hopefully, relevant studies will be done soon so that the right moves can be made in an attempt to fix this problem.

Both mothers plan to make their case before the Health Finance Commission this fall in hopes that the Legislature will find a way to help Indiana residents who have experienced unfortunate brain injuries.

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Cline Farrell Christie Lee & Caress are personal injury attorneys in Indianapolis representing victims of motor vehicle collisions, medical malpractice, premises liability, defective products, workplace injuries, and other types of personal injury and wrongful death accidents. They have more than 120 years of combined experience in these areas of law.