The Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance is committed to reducing the impoverishment facing people with brain injury and their families as they work to recover and find a new way of life.
Increase the Income and Asset Qualifying Standards for Medical Assistance for those in the elderly and disabled category.
This is the category of MA people need to come through in order to access home and community-based services through Minnesota's waiver programs.
It is the lowest of all MA categories at 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Guideline and allows individuals no more than $3,000 in qualifying assets.
These standards are fundamentally unfair, discriminatory and force many people to "spend-down" any income they may have from SSDI or other sources, deplete most of their assets and be forced into a state of community-level poverty in order to stay out of institutional care.
Promote Minnesota Insurance and Legal Reforms for injury victims, especially those injured by the negligence of others.
The system most of us think is in place to protect us from the devastating consequences of being injured is woefully inadequate.
The 2025 Brain Injury Legal Reform and Modernization Act will expand funds available to victims by increasing minimum auto insurance requirements and creating a catastrophic fund for those whose needs exceed what is available through our Insurance and Legal system.
Promote legal and insurance settlement requirements that more accurately reflect the true lifetime costs of these injuries and protect those that do get settlements from predatory and unfair conduct in the marketplace.
Rebecca and Rik advocate to try and change the Medical Assistance Spend-down so that they can keep more of their Social Security Disability income.
Become a Citizen Advocate
The Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance offers many opportunities for people to engage in public policy advocacy to improve the quality of life for all Minnesotans affected by brain injury. Through sharing their lived experience with brain injury these Citizen Advocates work together to create positive change that improves supports and services as well as preventing brain injury in Minnesota. The key to being successful in any of our advocacy has always been and will continue to be these Citizen Advocates who are willing to share their personal story.
The Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance Citizen Advocate Program provides training and information sessions on the issues, on the political process and how to become an effective advocate. We provide opportunities for advocates to put these skills to use by visiting the State Capitol, meeting with legislators, testifying on Bills, holding community forums and many other opportunities. The program is both in-person and virtual and is flexible so that you can choose how much time you want to spend being involved.
Learn about the Issues: Medical Assistance, Healthcare, Transportation, Housing, etc.
Get support to turn your personal brain injury story into an effective political message.
Come to the Capitol, attend Committee Hearings, and gain knowledge of the political process.
Participate in a Town Hall Forum on Brain Injury or other local community event.
Meet directly with your Legislators to share what you think needs to be done.
Understand and impact the Minnesota State Budget process.
Meet new friends and other like-minded people who want to change the system.
If you have any questions, are willing to share your story and might want to join us, contact Maeve Olson or signup with us below.
Sign up
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