Vermont Business Magazine In a recent letter, a group of 19 state attorneys general are urging members of Congress and the President to adequately fund drug treatment in any plan to replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA, or commonly known as ObamaCare). The initial ACA replacement plan would have cut federal funding for drug treatment by an estimated $5.5 billion.
The ACA currently allows significant and critical assistance for drug treatment, providing coverage to an additional 2.8 million Americans suffering from addiction. It requires both private plans and Medicaid to cover certain drug treatment.
The attorneys general say this provision is essential in their fight against the growing drug epidemic that face most states. Many AGs view the drug epidemic as the single greatest challenge facing their communities that are still recovering from the flood of addictive pain pills. States now face a surge in drugs like heroin, fentanyl, and carfentanil.
“In the midst of an ongoing public health crisis, the federal government cannot abandon this commitment to our communities,” the group said in its letter. “Our nation faces a drug epidemic that grows more difficult and dangerous by the hour. These drugs are causing record numbers of overdoses and are destabilizing whole communities. It is our belief that the reported numbers of overdose deaths are only a fraction of the real toll.” The group says the loss of any form of coverage for 24 million Americans under the draft plan undoubtedly will leave many Americans suffering from addiction with no means of securing or paying for treatment.
“We need more drug treatment, not less,” Attorney General Donovan stated. “This is a health issue. Preventative treatment and enforcement all must be adequately funded to win this fight.”
State attorneys general who signed the letter include: Vermont, California, Connecticut, Kentucky, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington and the District of Columbia (D.C.)
The full letter can be foundhere.
Vermont AG: Apri 26, 2017