Establishing the Acquired Brain Injury Trust Fund in Maine: Background Information, Experiences in Other States, and the Needs of Maine Individuals and Their Families

Contained in the report is a review of the development of trust funds as a funding stream to provide services to individuals with brain injury with unmet needs. There are currently 19 active state trust funds. Trust fund revenue sources and the uses of those funds vary from state-to-state. Revenues from trust funds generally support the access and delivery of cognitive rehabilitation, registries, education, community supports and case management. The unmet needs and barriers of Maine residents with brain injury and their service providers were detailed in a recent state-wide needs assessment. In particular, case management, supported housing, vocational, and education are identified as high priority areas for resource development. The needs assessment recommendations include policy development, collaboration and coalition building to strengthen the service delivery system, coordination of services and supports, and the development of educational opportunities for clinicians, service providers, employers and general public. Recent developments in Maine such as a decreasing number of brain injury service providers, the implementation of a new medical model of reimbursement under MaineCare, and an expected return of recent military veterans with brain injury have prompted the Acquired Brain Injury Advisory Committee to renew focus on the development of a new funding stream to support unmet needs.