Gazing into the Crystal Ball: Health Care, Health Policy, and Rehabilitation for Spinal Cord Injury

The US Congress faces a host of health issues that demand immediate attention. Many of these issues are of considerable importance to those persons with spinal cord injury (SCI), including the rising cost of health care and health insurance, the current budget shortfalls facing state governments, and the need for a Medicare prescription drug program. Persons with disabilities are becoming increasingly dependent on public forms of insurance, like Medicare and Medicaid, and are bearing a disproportionate share of service curtailment. Other issues relevant to persons with disabilities and health care providers are prospective payment reimbursement implementation for rehabilitation, the reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act, and the New Freedom Initiative. Considering the political climate and the importance of such issues, the need for advocacy among professionals and consumers is greater than ever.