The Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Program's purpose is to provide all eligible
residents who sustain a traumatic brain or spinal cord injury the opportunity
to obtain the necessary services that will enable them to return to an
appropriate level of functioning in their community. Funding for the program
is through traffic-related fines, temporary license tags, motorcycle
specialty plates and general revenue.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Are we meeting your expectations? Please
click on the link below to provide your feedback in an anonymous short survey
BSCIP
Survey
Under Florida Law, e-mail addresses are
public records. If you do not want your email address released in
response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to
this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.
If you have any comments regarding the Brain and
Spinal Cord Injury Program website, please contact its web manager
toll-free at 1 (866) 875-5660.
This site was last updated on
Friday September 14, 2012
