News
Insurance companies and cognitive therapy: the fight continues
Source: Libertas Academica
Ellie Cizek, a 20 year old, experienced a traumatic brain injury on the ski slopes which resulted in a period of coma and a long road back. Her rehabilitation team believed that her recovery would require 18 months and her insurance company cut off funding after four months when she regained the skills to walk and talk. The decision of her insurance company was made in total neglect of her cognitive deficits arising from her severe brain injury. Their decision was based on their medical necessity criteria which did not include consideration of her thinking skills as part of her brain injury.
We are seeing a shift in the view of cognitive therapy as an integral part of brain injury rehabilitation in some sectors such as the U.S. Military, the VA and some recent state legislation which forces insurers to address the issue. Ellie’s story needs to become one of “old news”. People with brain injuries need comprehensive rehabilitation services which include physical, psychological, cognitive and behavioral rehabilitation. The failure of insurance companies to recognize the role of the brain and its functions is a sad state of affairs.
Click here to read Ellie’s story.
