(Springfield, IL) – March 14, 2011. An Illinois House panel will vote Tuesday on legislation requiring parity for insurance coverage of substance use disorder services.
The measure, HB1530, which will be called before the House Health Care Availability and Accessibility Committee at 4 p.m., will result in health care savings and boost worker productivity, according to the state’s top addiction health care advocacy group.
“With the passage of this legislation, employers will see decreased health care costs and increased worker productivity.” said Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association CEO Sara Moscato Howe. “Additionally, across Illinois, we will see a reduction in accidents, absenteeism and crime while building healthy parents and families.”
The bill is being sponsored by House Deputy Majority Leader Lou Lang (D-Skokie).
Howe also stressed the importance of ensuring that Illinoisans in need of substance use disorder treatment have equal access to addiction services and equitable insurance coverage.
“Addiction is a chronic disease, like diabetes, asthma or hypertension, and paying for its treatment yields as good a return as paying for treatment for other chronic illnesses.” said Howe.
“This legislation will improve access to lifesaving addiction treatment by limiting the discriminatory barriers that have kept hundreds of Illinois citizens with substance use disorders from receiving the care they desperately need,” Howe added.
House committee members include State Representatives: Mary Flowers, Karen May, Dennis Reboletti, Luis Arroyo, Will Burns, Lisa Dugan, Esther Golar, David Harris, Greg Harris, Chad Hayes, Rosemary Mulligan, Keith Sommer, and Michael Tryon.
Illinois Association for Behavioral Health News Blog 