A new fund has been established for people who are suffering from traumatic brain injuries sustained in auto accidents. The fund is intended to help address problems created by Michigan's no-fault laws that took effect in July.
The new law is making it more difficult for medical providers to stay in business and is creating a crisis of care for victims of catastrophic brain injuries.
Under the new laws, non-Medicare fee charges are being capped. That means places like rehab centers and occupational therapy clinics are seeing their payments cut by as much as 45%.
Tom Constand is the President and CEO of the Brain Injury Association of Michigan (BIAMI), the organization behind the new fund.
Constand says he hopes fundraising will help lessen the financial burden placed on families caring for loved ones.
“Monies that we collect can initially go towards things like durable medical equipment, wheelchairs, home modifications, things of that nature,” said Constand.
A study commissioned by the BIAMI found the care of 1,500 patients across the state has been disrupted and more than 3,000 healthcare providers have lost their jobs.
Michigan Radio's Tracy Samilton has doing in-depth reporting on this story for months. View her latest report here.
