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Who Are We?
The Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Program (BSCIP) is
administered by the Florida Department of Health. The program
is funded through a percentage of traffic related fines, surcharges
for driving or boating under the influence, fees on temporary
license tags, and a percentage of fees from the motorcycle specialty
tag.
What Do We Do?
The BSCIP general program provides direct
case management and resource facilitation as its primary services.
This is accomplished by employing a statewide system of case managers and
rehabilitation technicians. Children receive services from the
employment of Children's Medical Services nurse care coordinators
and human services counselors. The program also employs
regional managers who supervise staff in their region and who
oversee locally the operation, development, and evaluation of the
program's services and supports.
Services include: case management, acute care,
inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, transitional living,
assistive technology, home and vehicle modifications, nursing home
transition facilitation; and long-term supports for survivors and
families through contractual agreements with community-based
agencies.
In addition to providing resource facilitation
and funding for the services above, the program funds education,
prevention, and research activities. It expands its services
by funding a contract with the Brain Injury Association of Florida
and the Florida Disabled Outdoors Association. Other services
are provided through working relationships with the Florida Centers
for Independent Living and the Florida Department of Education, Division of
Vocational Rehabilitation.
Who Is
Eligible?
Florida
Statutes 381.76 requires that an individual must be a legal Florida
resident who has sustained a moderate -to-severe traumatic brain or
spinal cord injury meeting the state's definition of such injuries;
has been referred to the BSCIP Central Registry; and must be
medically stable to be eligible for services. There must also
be a reasonable expectation that with the provision of appropriate
services and supports, the person can return to a community-based
setting, rather than reside in a skilled nursing facility.
The State
Definition of a Brain Injury
An insult to the skull, brain or its covering,
resulting from external trauma, which produces an altered state of
consciousness or anatomic, motor, sensory, cognitive or behavioral
deficit.
The State
Definition of a Spinal Cord Injury
A lesion
to the
spinal cord or cauda equina resulting from external trauma with
evidence of significant involvement of two of the following-motor
deficit, sensory deficit, or bowel and bladder dysfunction.
CENTRAL REGISTRY
REFERRAL PROCESS
Referrals may be called into the Brain and Spinal Cord Injury
Program's (BSCIP) Central Registry toll free number or
may be faxed to the program. Florida law (F.S. 381.74) requires that all
hospitals, attending physicians, public, private, or social agencies
refer all new traumatic moderate-to-severe brain or spinal cord injuries
to the Central Registry.
Individuals who meet the eligibility criteria and require services
and supports to sustain their health and safety in the community may
refer themselves to the BSCIP Central Registry.
A BSCIP Case Manager or Children's Medical Services
Nurse Care Coordinator
representing the program will contact the reported individual within 10 working days. The case manager will work
with the individual and family to determine program eligibility and
provide information about federal, state, and community resources. When
appropriate and necessary, an individual community reintegration plan
may be
developed and implemented.
Central
Registry Toll-Free Number:
1 (800) 342-0778
Central Registry Fax:
(850) 410-1975
What Else
Do We Do?
The BSCIP supports two comprehensive statewide
resource centers. These centers maintain information on the
most up-to-date information pertaining to brain and spinal cord
injury, assistive technology, medical, social and financial
resources, and other information. They provide linkages to
related initiatives and specific information to help individuals and
their families cope with injury and its aftermath.
The BSCIP also supports prevention and education
activities through contracts with our community-based partners.
The program supports research in brain and spinal cord injuries at
the University of Florida and the University of Miami.
The BSCIP
Medicaid Waiver Program
For those individuals eligible for
Medicaid and needing lifetime supports, the Brain and Spinal Cord
Injury Program also provides home and community-based services for
individuals who are at risk of nursing home placement. The
purpose of the waiver is to provide Medicaid eligible individuals
who meet the state definition of brain and spinal cord injury and
who meet nursing home level of care with the long-term
community-based services and supports required to live safely and
independently in the community. The annual cost is not to
exceed that of skilled nursing placement.
For more information about the Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Program,
please click the Program Information link on the navigation bar to
the left.
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