N.H. Senate Approves Bill Mandating Addiction Treatment Coverage April 25, 2002
News Summary
The New Hampshire Senate approved a bill that would require health-insurance companies to offer some coverage for addiction treatment, the Nashua Telegraph reported April 24.Under the measure, all health insurers would be required to offer some form of inpatient and outpatient treatment for alcohol and other drug addictions. Insurers would be allowed to set limits on the number of visits and annual charges they would cover.
"We've got a national problem here. Treatment saves money," said Sen. Katie Wheeler (D-Durham). She added that the bill would give insurers flexibility in coverage while raising annual premiums only $2.45 per person.
The Senate also narrowly approved an amendment to the bill that would require the same provision to be included in bargaining contracts for state employees. Some lawmakers said that the amendment was actually intended to sabotage the measure. The legislation approved in January by the New Hampshire House of Representatives included a special exemption for state workers.
As a result, the bill goes back to the House, where lawmakers will decide whether to accept the amendment, reject it, or ask that a negotiating committee be formed to work out the differences.
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