In most states, insurance does not cover addiction treatments

(HealthDay) – In a conclusion that brings bad news as the United States fights an opioid epidemic, a new report indicates that only four states offer sufficient insurance coverage for the treatment of cancer. substance addiction.

"We call on states to ensure that health plans cover the full range of effective drug treatment treatments and correct the serious shortcomings identified in this report," said report author Lindsey Vuolo. She is Director of Law and Health Policy at the Center on Addiction in New York.

"Improving insurance coverage for addiction treatment is critical to resolving the opioid crisis," Vuolo said.

In the report, researchers badyzed the benefits of drug treatment in health insurance plans sold in the United States in 2017. Investigators found that more than half of the states were proposing a regime that did not meet the requirements. of the Affordable Care Act to cover the treatment of addiction.

In addition, 20% of states have proposed a plan that violates a federal law requiring insurance plans to pay for drug treatment in the same way that they cover the treatment of other chronic conditions. like diabetes or cancer.

Only one state (Rhode Island) has provided comprehensive coverage for substance abuse treatment in the two 2017 ACA plans reviewed. Three other states (California, Minnesota and Oregon) have proposed at least one plan in 2017 offering comprehensive coverage of drug treatment, the researchers said.

A particularly worrying finding was that the discriminating coverage was deteriorating with regard to methadone, a drug considered as the benchmark for the treatment of opioid dependence, said the authors of the study.

"Faced with the national opioid crisis and the public outcry over more treatments, we were expecting greater improvements in insurance coverage against addictions," Vuolo said in a press release. .

"We must use all the tools at our disposal, including laws prohibiting discriminatory insurance practices, so that more people receive affordable care," she added.

The Center on Addiction report was published online on March 26.

According to Creighton Drury, CEO of Center on Addiction, "Most people can not afford drug treatment unless their insurance plan covers it." Families need to understand that they are often entitled to an insurance cover – this knowledge can save your life. "

And, just as importantly, "health insurance leaders and government leaders need to understand that failure to provide insurance coverage for drug treatment is a cause of profound grief and pain. unnecessary loss of life in our country Our report is part of our ongoing effort to call on leaders to take the moral and legal steps necessary to deal with the drug crisis in our country, "added Drury.

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