GENERAL PROGRAM INFORMATION
Mission
The mission of the Brain and Spinal Cord Injury
Program is to provide all eligible residents who sustain a traumatic brain or spinal cord
injury the opportunity to obtain the necessary services enabling them to return
to their community.
Goal
To reintegrate injured individuals into their communities, to ensure that
quality services are delivered in the most effective and cost efficient manner
through a coordinated system, and to utilize program funds to leverage federal
dollars and grants to support the long term goals of the program.
Program
Overview
The Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Program (BSCIP) is a state
government administered program funded through traffic-related
fines, surcharges for driving under the influence and boating under
the influence convictions, temporary license tag fees, and a
percentage of funds from the motorcycle specialty tag. These
funds are deposited into the BSCIP Rehabilitation Trust Fund.
The BSCIP general program provides direct services
by employing 21 case managers, 21 rehabilitation technicians and 5
regional managers. Children 18 and younger receive services
from 12 Children's Medical Services nurse case managers, 2 human
service counselors, and an administrator.
Services include: case management, acute care,
inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, transitional living,
assistive technology, home and vehicle modification, and long-term
community-based supports funded under contract with specific
not-for-profit agencies.
Funds from the Trust Fund are used to assist
individuals and their family identify and access all available
federal, state and third party and community resources. The
BSCIP is the payor of last resort. The Trust Fund can be used
to access services not paid for by any other source.
In addition, the Program funds education,
prevention, and research activities and expands its services by
funding contracts with the Brain Injury Association of Florida,
Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology, the Florida
Spinal Cord Injury Resource Center, and the Florida Association of
Centers for Independent Living.
For those needing lifetime supports, the BSCIP also
provides home and community based services for individuals who are
at risk of nursing home placement through its Medicaid Home and
Community-based Services Waiver. The purpose of the waiver is
to provide Medicaid eligible clients 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 at an
annual cost not to exceed that of skilled nursing placement.
The BSCIP supports three 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.
Program Eligibility
Any Florida resident who has sustained
a traumatic brain or spinal cord injury meeting the state's
definition* of such injuries and has been referred to the BSCIP
Central Registry (1-800-342-0778).
The individual must be medically stable to be
eligible for services. There must be a reasonable expectation
that with the provision of appropriate services and support, the
person can return to the community.
Program Staff
* State Definitions
Brain Injury: An insult to the skull, brain, or its
covering, resulting from external trauma, which produces an altered
state of conscienceness or anatomic, motor, sensory, cognitive or
behavioral deficit. (F.S. 381)
Spinal 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,
bowel and bladder dysfunction. (F.S. 381)
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