Wyoming First Lady Advocates for UPPL Repeal 

Wyoming first lady Nancy Freudenthal insists that the state's law allowing insurance companies to deny coverage of alcohol or drug related injuries needs to be repealed to reflect a more modern understanding of addiction.
"We definitely have good science available now about addiction's effects on the brain," said Freudenthal.

Wyoming's current law discourages doctors to screen for drug and alcohol use because it may lead to them not being paid for medical services, Freudenthal said. She cited a 1999 study, which found that 30 minutes of emergency room alcohol screening reduced injuries needing emergency treatment by 47 percent over the following years.

"If we can keep them out of the emergency room, that's a win-win for everyone, including insurance companies," said Freudenthal.

As a result of Freudenthal's advocacy, State Representative Dave Edwards (R- Douglas) has said that a bill will be introduced to repeal the law.

(7/15/2005)