President Bush signed H.R. 6344

The ONDCP Reauthorization Act of 2006, into law on Friday, December 29, 2006.  This bill contained a provision that increases the prescribing limit for buprenorphine from 30 to 100 patients per waivered physician.   Physicians should note the following parameters, as specified in the legislation: physicians who have had their waiver for no less than one year must notify the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services of their need and intent to treat up to 100 patients. 

[Waivers and registering with the DEA]

Senator Coleman has reintroduced his parity legislation for the 109th Congress, known as the HEART Act (S. 803).  Representative Ramstad also introduced new parity legislation in the House.  This bill is referred to as the TREAT America Act (HR. 1258).  Both acts provide parity in health insurance coverage for substance abuse treatment. 

Representative Patrick Kennedy has also introduced a parity bill.  The Paul Wellstone Mental Health Parity Act (H.R. 1402)  requires fair coverage for all mental health conditions, including substance abuse disorders.  Congressman Ramstad supports this bill, as well.

Currently, most states do not require health insurance policies to provide the same level of coverage for substance abuse treatment as is offered for medical or surgical treatment.  These bills would provide equitable access to substance abuse treatment for 23 million adults and children in need.  Untreated addiction currently costs American taxpayers $400 billion a year. This legislation could change that.

You can be a part of making this legislation a reality.  Contact your Congressperson and ask for his/her support.  Go to www.house.gov and www.senate.gov to find contact information for you Congresspersons.

32 states (and the District of Columbia) have alcohol exclusion laws in practice while ten others "allow" for alcohol exclusion policies by not explicitly prohibiting them.  Since 2001, ten states have amended or repealed these laws (Colorado*, Connecticut*, Iowa, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, and Washington).

*Colorado's legislature passed a law in April 2006 that prohibits alcohol exclusion insurance policies.  Connecticut's legislature passed similar legislation in May 2006.

Information retrieved from www.ensuringsolutions.org, June 15, 2006.

If your state is currently debating its alcohol exclusion law (a.k.a., UPPL), please notify ASAM.
If you are interested in advocating for the repeal or denial of alcohol exclusion laws in your state, this  PowerPoint presentation (provided by Dr. Larry Gentilello) may be helpful.  You will need Microsoft Office PowerPoint to view the slides.

Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, and Vermont have full parity laws for private insurance plans for both mental health and substance abuse benefits.  Oregon passed a full parity bill in 2005 but it will not take effect until 2007.

Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, and Rhode Island have parity for substance abuse but some limitations or exemptions apply.  New Mexico does not have parity for substance abuse but is considered to have "good" parity laws for mental health coverage.

Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, and North Carolina all have limited parity laws (limited typically certain eligible groups).  Not all of these states offer parity for substance abuse if they offer it for mental health coverage.

Alabama, Alaska, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming do not have parity laws although some have mental health mandates.

Source: National Mental Health Association website.