Bill Overview
Title: Dr. Joanne Smith Memorial Rehabilitation Innovation Centers Act of 2022
Description: 2022 This act directs the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to publish and biennially update a list of all rehabilitation innovation centers. The act defines rehabilitation innovation centers as rehabilitation facilities that (1) hold specified federal research and training designations for traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury research, and (2) serve at least a certain number of Medicare patients. The CMS may waive such criteria as it deems appropriate.
Sponsors: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Target Audience
Population: Medicare patients receiving care in rehabilitation innovation centers
Estimated Size: 1500000
- Rehabilitation innovation centers are specialized facilities, implying they focus on advanced treatment and research for conditions like traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury.
- Centers serving a significant number of Medicare patients are likely catering to older adults or younger individuals with disabilities who qualify for Medicare.
- The requirement for facilities to have federal research and training designations suggests involvement in cutting-edge research, potentially impacting not only patients but also staff, including researchers and clinicians.
- Medicare patients under the care of these facilities are directly affected as these centers might offer advanced rehabilitative care and therapies.
Reasoning
- The policy is likely to impact those receiving rehabilitation services, especially Medicare patients with conditions like traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries.
- By improving facilities and possibly expanding access, beneficiaries may see improved health outcomes and overall wellbeing due to advancements in rehabilitation care.
- Considering the limited budget, the policy might not cover all desired upgrades and not all centers will benefit equally – distribution may focus on centers that serve a larger number of Medicare patients or have strong research credentials.
- The target population includes a mixture of patients receiving care at these centers and healthcare professionals working in the setting, with professionals potentially seeing indirect benefits through enhanced work environments and research opportunities.
- Clinicians and researchers at these centers might leverage better funding for more effective treatments, impacting long-term patient outcomes on a positive scale.
Simulated Interviews
Retired school teacher (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 71 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My rehabilitation center has great staff but lacks the latest equipment. I hope this policy brings updates that could help improve my therapy sessions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Software engineer (Denver, CO)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My center does incredible work, but research opportunities are limited due to funding. This policy could enhance not just my care, but future prospects for a full recovery.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 6 |
Physical therapist (Kansas City, MO)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This initiative could significantly improve my workplace by providing access to the latest research and treatment options, benefiting both patients and professionals.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Retired mechanic (Miami, FL)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If my center gets more funding, it could mean advanced therapies and potentially a better life quality for me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Graduate student (Boston, MA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Innovative policies like this inspire hope. My research could advance significantly with improved resources at rehabilitation centers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 6 |
Retired social worker (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 77 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any improvement is welcome. If more patients can be served effectively, I see this as a positive development.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Rehabilitation specialist (Portland, OR)
Age: 45 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could standardize best practices across centers, lifting the baseline of care for Medicare patients.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Retired attorney (New York, NY)
Age: 85 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope more resources can lead to advancements that help people like me improve daily functionality.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Rehabilitation nurse (Houston, TX)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am always eager to incorporate new technologies into care, and this funding could make that possible.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Research scientist (Chicago, IL)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More funding can bolster my projects that aim to innovate rehab processes; this could be a game changer for patients and researchers alike.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $18000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $21000000)
Year 2: $15000000 (Low: $12000000, High: $18000000)
Year 3: $18000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $21000000)
Year 5: $15000000 (Low: $12000000, High: $18000000)
Year 10: $21000000 (Low: $18000000, High: $24000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Congressional support or opposition may hinge on CMS's ability to effectively update and manage the list of innovation centers without significant overhead.
- Legislative changes or broader healthcare policy implementations could modify the scope or impact of this act.