Alcohol / Drug Council of North Carolina

It’s been a long and drawn out battle with very strong feelings on both sides.  But, as you know, the United States Senate and House of Representatives have passed the Healthcare Reform Bill.  Throughout the process, we have asked you and NCADD Affiliates to keep in touch with your Members of Congress…..and you have.  Thank You!

Without question, your persistent support was a key factor in keeping alcohol and drug issues included in the final bill…….this is a major accomplishment!

In fact, my last conversation with my Congressman was on the plane as we flew to Washington on Friday.  And, although he voted against the original bill, he committed his support and voted Yes on Sunday!  And, he received my e-mail thank you this morning!

Thank You’s To Members of Congress: Please take a minute and send a thank you to your Members of Congress for their support.  If they did not support you and the bill, thank them and tell them you look forward to working with them on alcohol and drug issues going forward.  This contact is just as important as thanking the yes votes.

Final House Vote Tally: A list of how each member of the House of Representatives voted is attached.

As I said with the passage of the Parity Bill, the Health Care Reform Bill includes many important legislative provisions.  However, this bill will not be “the answer” but, it does represent critically important next steps for people who suffer from addiction to alcohol ands other drugs.

The following is an edited version of a summary from the one put together by our friends at the Legal Action Center, as a preliminary report of the key provisions:

Key Provisions Summary:
In a major victory, ground-breaking expansion of addiction and mental health coverage of prevention, treatment and recovery is a part of the final healthcare reform bill passed on Sunday.  The final bill, approved by both chambers of Congress, incorporates many recommendations made by the Legal Action Center, The Whole Health Campaign The Coalition on Addiction and Mental Health in Healthcare Reform and our many partners around addiction and mental health services:

• Basic Benefit Package: Includes substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health (MH) (SUD/MH) services as required benefits in the basic benefit package for individual and small business health plans.
• Parity Requirements Protected: Requires that all plans in the health insurance exchange comply with The Paul Wellstone/Pete Domenici Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act (Parity Bill) in providing SUD/MH benefits in the same way as all other covered medical and surgical benefits.
• Medicaid Eligibility Expanded: The bill expands Medicaid eligibility for all Americans up to 133% of the federal poverty level and require newly eligible parents and childless adults receive coverage that includes SUD/MH services provided at parity.
• Prevention Strategies for Chronic Disease and Workforce Strategy: Includes SUD and MH prevention strategies and efforts in the bill’s chronic disease initiatives.  Includes the capacity of the mental and behavioral health workforce as high-priority topics in the bill’s National Workforce Strategy section.
• Insurance Reforms and Consumer Protections: The bill includes insurance reforms and consumer protections critical for individuals seeking or in recovery, including prohibiting insurers from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions, charging higher premiums based on health status, and placing annual or lifetime caps on insurance coverage.

The reforms included in the bill represent significant progress as we continue to advocate for the expansion and improvement of our nation’s health responses to alcohol and drug addiction, including prevention, treatment, recovery, and research.

In Depth Analysis: In the coming days, we will send you a more in-depth analysis of the healthcare reform bill and its ramifications for those of who serve those addicted to alcohol and other drugs.

Thank you.

Bob

Robert J. Lindsey, M.Ed., CEAP

President and CEO

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD)

244 East 58th Street    4th Floor

New York, NY 10022

Tel: (212) 269-7797 ext 19

Fax: (212) 269-7510

Email: president@ncadd.org

www.ncadd.org

10th Annual Spring Luncheon

Honoring: Hallmark     Guest Speaker: Steve Ford

April 29, 2010

New York, NY

April 2010: 24th Annual NCADD Alcohol Awareness Month:

Theme: “When Love Is Not Enough:  Helping Families Coping With Alcoholism”

Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 9pm EST/8pm Central on CBS

Hallmark Hall of Fame Movie

“When Love Is Not Enough:  The Lois Wilson Story”

NCADD Conference of Affiliates 2010

October 27-30, 2010

Phoenix, AZ