The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence fights the stigma and the disease of alcoholism and other drug addictions.

Fight for Fairness
in Treatment

The Drug and Alcohol Addiction Recovery Act of 2001

Treatment Parity Advocacy Kit

No disease scars the American landscape more than addiction: 23 million people suffer from addiction. Per year, one in four die and the annual tab for taxpayers is $400 billion - six times more than America's number one killer, heart disease.

70% of Americans have private health plans. Most plans currently impose higher co-pays and deductibles, restrictive day and visit limits and lower annual and lifetime caps for addiction treatment. New legislation introduced in the U.S. Congress seeks to end this discrimination and provide much needed treatment on par with all other chronic, relapsing and fatal diseases.

People suffering from the disease of alcohol and other drug addiction should not be discriminated against.

The following kit is provided so that you can join the FIGHT FOR FAIRNESS: fight for our families, friends and loved ones needing help.

Containing:

Sample News Release
Key Messages for the Media
Online Congressional Contact Tools
Sample Letter to Senators
Sample Letter to Representatives
FYI: Fairness in Treatment (Fact Sheet)
Online Treatment Parity Resources

SAMPLE NEWS RELEASE

Instructions for use of news release: Substitute local information in the news release below, reproduce copies on your letterhead or news release paper to inform media that your organization supports Fairness in Treatment and "The Drug and Alcohol Addiction Recovery Act of 2001". Send the release to the city desks of your local newspapers and to the assignment editors at your local radio and television stations. This would be an excellent opportunity to keep the media and public aware of alcoholism and alcohol-related issues during Alcohol Awareness Month (April 2001) and the NCADD Second Annual Spring Awards Luncheon (April 26, 2001). Sample News Release: For More Information, Contact: (INSERT NAME OF CONTACT) (INSERT PHONE NUMBER) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For Immediate Release:     (INSERT NAME OF ORGANIZATION)Supports Shift in Congress on Drug Policy Reform; Legislation Eliminates Discrimination in Health Plans for Substance Abuse Treatment     Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN) and Congressman Jim Ramstad, (R-MN) were recently joined by Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) and a biparisan group of members in both chambers, to take important first steps to ending the outdated U.S. drug policies of the 1990's by introducing legislation that would cover addiction treatment benefits in the same manner as all other medical and surgical conditions currently covered under private health plans. Of the 70% of Americans insured by private health insurance, few receive benefits for treatment on par with other diseases, in part because of four factors that shape health plan coverage of addiction treatment: 1) annual and lifetime caps that are unequal to that of other diseases; 2) more restrictive day and visit limits than other diseases; 3) higher co-pays and deductibles for employees and their families seeking to heal from addiction; and 4) arbitrary and often undisclosed criteria used by insurers and employers to determine whether treatment services are medically necessary. Fairness in Treatment: The Drug and Alcohol Addiction Recovery Act of 2001 would remove these restrictions and mark the beginning of a new social health movement among leaders seeking to bring a greater public health focus to the nation's drug policy debate. Addiction is the number one health problem in America - and no disease costs society more. The Physician Leadership on National Drug Policy (PLNDP) at the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies at Brown University points out that untreated addiction costs six times more than America's number one killer, heart disease ($133.2 billion), six times more than diabetes ($130 billion) and four times more than cancer ($96.1 billion). Fair access to treatment for families afflicted by addictive disease will reduce the nation's current $400 billion tab for incarceration, alcohol-related accidents on the nation's highways and workplaces and the escalating health costs that result from untreated alcoholism and other drug addiction. According to (INSERT NAME OF ORGANIZATION SPOKESPERSON), "More than the 23 million people suffer from addiction. Many studies show that substance abuse treatment reduces health care costs by 50% or more. I am convinced that full parity in health plans would quickly begin to reduce the huge burden untreated addiction inflicts on our hospitals, judicial system and communities." Among all diseases, alcoholism and drug addiction are the most economical diseases to treat. Actuarial studies conducted by Milliman and Robertson estimate that full parity for substance abuse treatment increases insurance premiums by less than one percent or less than $1 per family per month. A Harvard School of Public Health study assessing the cost/benefit ratio for various treatments of medical conditions found that substance abuse treatment ranked in the top 10% of medical treatments reviewed for savings in money and lives. A report issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reviewed studies of five states with full substance abuse parity laws. They discovered that the costs associated with full parity for substance abuse treatment tended to have little impact on health insurance premiums and initial expenditures were minimal when compared to the value of the resultant societal benefits. The substance abuse parity legislation falls on the heels of the nation's renewed interest in focusing on more effective ways to solve the country's drug problem. The U.S. Department on Health and Human Service's Healthy People 2000: National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives list both substance abuse and access to health care as two of their top health concerns for the new millennium. Additionally, a recent congressional hearing convened by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, historically known for its law and order approach to drug policy, resolved unanimously to make addiction treatment one of the primary focuses of U.S. drug policy. "The nation can only benefit from full parity for substance abuse treatment," says (INSERT NAME OF ORGANIZATION SPOKESPERSON). # # # (INSERT DATE OF DISTRIBUTION)

ONLINE CONGRESSIONAL CONTACT TOOLS

Use the graphic to the right to look up your Senators and Representative in Congress. Simply enter your zip code, click "GO," and your browser will open a new page at the Partnership for Recovery website, which features this online directory with a look-up capability. The Partnership for Recovery provides a sample letter and a blank page for you to compose your own letter, if you prefer (you can use the sample letters below as a guide). Letters you, your organization members, friends and family submit via the Partnership for Recovery website will be sent via fax. Your Senators' and Representative's mailing addresses are available with this tool so you can follow your faxed letter with the sample letters for Senators and Representatives in this kit. Distribute the NCADD Action Alert with your constituents, members, family and friends. Insert a "Websticker" on your website to generate letters among your websurfers. A "Websticker" is the graphic above (and accompanying code) that will users to enter their zip code and access their Congressional Members' contact information and the sample letter supporting treatment parity, courtesy of the Partnership for Recovery. Click here to access the "Webstickers" at the Partnership for recovery website. Visit Thomas, the website of Congress, to look-up the text, status and co-sponsors of "The Drug and Alcohol Addiction Recovery Act of 2001." The bill numbers are, in the Senate, S. 595, and in the House of Representatives, H.R. 1194.

SAMPLE LETTER TO SENATORS

The Honorable (INSERT SENATOR'S NAME HERE) United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator (INSERT SENATOR'S NAME HERE): I am writing to ask your support for the Fairness in Treatment: The Drug And Alcohol Addiction Recovery Act of 2001(S. 595). Please cosponsor this important legislation. This bill was introduced by Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN) and is of great importance to the 23 million Americans who suffer from the disease of alcohol and other drug dependencies. No disease scars the American landscape more than addiction: per year, one in four die from addiction and the annual tab for taxpayers is $400 billion - six times more than America's number one killer, heart disease. Senator Wellstone's legislation saves lives and money by ending the discrimination that exists in private health plans and provides for a level playing field in the most important area needed to combat America's drug problem: health services. The bill does not mandate that health plans offer substance abuse coverage. However, if a substance abuse benefit is offered, individuals such as myself, cannot be discriminated against by health plans arbitrarily imposing higher co-pays and deductibles, restrictive day and visit limits and lower annual and lifetime caps. People suffering from the disease of alcohol and drug addiction should not be discriminated against. Treatment works: National Institute on Drug Abuse studies have proven that treatment reduces overall drug usage by close to 60%. Several states with parity laws have already demonstrated that the initial investments have been minimal in comparison to the enormous savings in the reduction of crime and health services. Furthermore, the most recent data reveal that even the most expensive estimates for parity total only $5.00 per family member per year. The Chevron Corporation found that for every $1 spent to treat addicted employees saved their company $10. A Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) study found that substance abuse parity would increase premiums by 0.2 percent. In addition, the actuarial firm of Milliman & Robertson found substance abuse parity would increase premiums by 0.8 percent. All estimates on the potential increases are minimal when compared to the enormous savings to America's employers, families, correctional facilities and hospitals. As your constituent, I urge you to cosponsor Senator Wellstone's Fairness in Treatment: The Drug And Alcohol Addiction Recovery Act of 2001 and demonstrate support for the families in your district who suffer from the disease of addiction. Thank you for your interest in this life-saving legislation. Sincerely, (YOUR SIGNATURE) (INSERT YOUR NAME, ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER)

SAMPLE LETTER TO REPRESENTATIVES

The Honorable (INSERT REPRESENTATIVE'S NAME HERE) U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman (INSERT REPRESENTATIVE'S NAME HERE): I am writing to ask your support for the Harold Hughes-Bill Emerson Substance Abuse Treatment Parity Act of 2001 (H.R. 1194). Please cosponsor this important legislation. This bill was introduced by Congressman Jim Ramstad (R-MN) and cosponsored by representatives Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Barney Frank (D-MD) Earl Hilliard (D-AL), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Tom Lantos (D-CA), Bill Luther (D-MN), Michael McNulty (D-NY), Patsy T. Mink (D-HI), Constance Morrella (R-MD), Marge Roukema (R-NJ), Fred Upton (R-MI), and Frank Wolf (R-VA). The legislation is of great importance to the 23 million Americans who suffer from the disease of alcohol and other drug dependencies. No disease scars the American landscape more than addiction: per year, one in four die from addiction and the annual tab for taxpayers is $400 billion - six times more than America's number one killer, heart disease. Congressman Ramstad's legislation saves lives and money by ending the discrimination that exists in private health plans and provides for a level playing field in the most important area needed to combat America's drug problem: health services. The bill does not mandate that health plans offer substance abuse coverage. However, if a substance abuse benefit is offered, individuals such as myself, cannot be discriminated against by health plans arbitrarily imposing higher copays and deductibles, restrictive day and visit limits and lower annual and lifetime caps. People suffering from the disease of alcohol and drug addiction should not be discriminated against. Treatment works: National Institute on Drug Abuse studies have proven that treatment reduces overall drug usage by close to 60%. Several states with parity laws have already demonstrated that the initial investments have been minimal in comparison to the enormous savings in the reduction of crime and health services. Furthermore, the most recent data reveal that even the most expensive estimates for parity total only $5.00 per family member per year. The Chevron Corporation found that for every $1 spent to treat addicted employees saved their company $10. A Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) study found that substance abuse parity would increase premiums by 0.2 percent. In addition, the actuarial firm of Milliman & Robertson found substance abuse parity would increase premiums by 0.8 percent. All estimates on the potential increases are minimal when compared to the enormous savings to America's employers, families, correctional facilities and hospitals. As your constituent, I urge you to cosponsor Congressman Ramstad's Harold Hughes-Bill Emerson Substance Abuse Treatment Parity Act of 2001 and demonstrate support for the families in your district who suffer from the disease of addiction. Thank you for your interest in this life-saving legislation. Sincerely, (YOUR SIGNATURE) (INSERT YOUR NAME, ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER)

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National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.

244 East 58th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10022 phone: 212/206-6770   fax: 212/645-1690 email: national@ncadd.org   http://www.ncadd.org HOPE LINE: 800/NCA-CALL (24-hour Affiliate referral)