STATEHOUSE (Feb. 11, 2010) - Many Hoosiers who sustain traumatic brain injuries (TBI) must travel out of state to receive the necessary rehabilitative services they require, and State Sen. Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso) is working to keep them here in Indiana.

Charbonneau, a member of the Senate Committee on Health and Provider Services, recently helped pass Senate Concurrent Resolution 32 to request lawmakers to study Indiana’s current brain injury services and ways to help provide rehabilitative care.

Every year, about 21,000 Hoosiers sustain traumatic brain injuries of varying degrees at a cost of more than $1.15 billion, according to the Centers for Disease Control. About 5,150 of the total affected will require hospitalization and an estimated 1,600 will have long-term effects.

Charbonneau said Indiana has made strides to respond to the short-term effects of TBI, but there is a lack of long-term care options available to provide more structured therapy programs.

“Too many Hoosiers travel out of state to receive the care they need,” Charbonneau said. “If we work together, Indiana can develop better ways to provide Hoosiers with these critical services here at home.”

TBI can cause a wide range of functional changes affecting thinking, language, learning, emotions, behavior and sensation. Individuals can sustain a TBI from accidents such as falls, motor vehicle crashes or assaults. However, Charbonneau emphasized that with appropriate care, improvement can occur.

“Traumatic brain injuries are becoming a big problem, and we need to form a comprehensive plan for the management of these kinds of injuries all over Indiana,” Charbonneau said. “I hope the Senate Commission on Health and Finance will work during the interim to study possible solutions.”

Charbonneau said the resolution now moves to the full Senate for further consideration.

Sen. Charbonneau represents Senate District 5, which includes Starke County and portions of Porter, LaPorte, Marshall, Jasper, Pulaski, and St. Joseph counties.

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