How Obamacare Could Revolutionize Addiction Treatment

[ProSense]

How Obamacare Could Revolutionize Addiction Treatment

By Sy Mukherjee

Obamacare’s treatment of alcoholism and other drug addiction as chronic diseases that must be covered by insurance plans could lead to as many as 40 million Americans entering rehabilitation programs, according to California Health Report.

Government data shows that about 24 million Americans aged 12 and older require treatment for a substance abuse issue — but only 11 percent of them received it at a specialty facility. These facilities charge an average of $4,000 for admission, and even outpatient facilities cost an average of $1,500 per course of treatment.

Obamacare could help eliminate those cost barriers for people seeking treatment. “I don’t think there’s another illness that will be more affected by the Affordable Care Act,” said Dr. Thomas McLellan, former deputy director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, in an interview with California Health Report.

Substance abuse and drug addiction haven’t always been perceived as chronic illnesses. But since opiate abuse (which has steadily been on the rise in America), alcoholism, and other addictions cost about $120 billion per year in health care spending, the health law puts special emphasis on both treatment and prevention by forcing insurers to cover rehab and encouraging doctors to screen for potential addictions.

- more -

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/09/12/2609501/obamacare-revolutionize-addiction-services/

[Whisp]

1. Absolutely K & R

It's just mind blowing how much good stuff is in the ACA.

Anyone who is against this and wants it repealed or trashed and started over as single payer, has got rocks in their heads - large boulders bouncing around in there.

Bravo, Mr. President!

[4Q2u2]

2. I know all to well about the lack of care

Even with good health insurance, there are life time caps on the amount of treatment they will pay for. Insurers do not like to cover this because they deem it a loser. Relapse rates are high so they think it wastes too much money. I will say this, the medical professionals are truly interested in treating a person. Without judgment, without condemnation they all have been admirable and I salute them. Most know of these short falls and tie the abuse to a secondary medical condition and get a dual diagnosis referral that medical insurances is more apt to cover. The second half of the treatment problem is the lack of available beds. Many a times I tried to get a bed for my loved one and there just were not any. Many of the inpatient facilities want a person clean and sober for at least 3 days but open slots were weeks away. So vulnerable people are discharged out into the world hoping not to relapse waiting for a bed to open up. In the last 4 yrs my family's out of pocket expense for treatment is over $30,000. Money we simply did not have, now the rest of our lives are suffering financially.
None of this accounts for the emotional destruction short or long term. The greater cost of these terrible diseases.

[Scurrilous]

3. Thanks ProSense.

[Whisp]

4. This deserves more attention.