Military Connection: VA Extends AL-TBI Program: By Debbie Gregory

On October 21, 2014, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that it is accepting proposals for the extension of its Assisted Living for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury (AL-TBI) pilot program.

Through the AL-TBI program, eligible wounded Veterans are placed in private sector TBI residential care facilities that specialize in neurobehavioral rehabilitation. In the care of these facilities, Veterans are offered team-based care and assisted living.

The AL-TBI pilot program was originally slated to end this year, but through the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, it has been extended through October 6, 2017. There were 187 wounded Veterans enrolled in the pilot program that was offered in 46 different facilities in 22 states.  There are currently 94 wounded Veterans still enrolled in the program.

With the VA announcing the extension of the program, opportunities are available for care providers to participate in the program. The VA is accepting proposals through November 20, 2014.

To be eligible for the AL-TBI program, contractor facilities must meet state, federal as well as local standards, and must also be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) in Residential Rehabilitation/Brain Injury Program.

Contracts for the extended program are expected to be awarded in February, 2015.

For more information about the AL-TBI Request for Proposal, visit the AL-TBI solicitation announcement on the Fed Biz Ops website, or visit www.fbo.gov

In addition to the AL-TBI extension, the VA is also in the process of the following measures:

Extending the pilot program of Project ARCH (Access Received Closer to Home) through March 31, 2015, and exploring additional contracting options to execute the remaining 18 months of the pilot program;

• Awarding a contract to the MITRE Corporation, Alliance to Modernize Healthcare, a private not-for-profit company, to support the Independent Assessment of VA health care processes; and
• Expanding the Fry Scholarship Program to include surviving spouses of service members killed on active duty.

Military Connection: VA Extends AL-TBI Program: By Debbie Gregory