Medicaid Would Cover Addiction Under Colo. Bill March 22, 2005
News Summary
A Colorado House committee has voted overwhelmingly in support of a bill that would add addiction treatment to the state's Medicaid benefit and provide treatment to thousands of people in state prisons, the Rocky Mountain News reported March 22.The House Health and Human Services Committee voted 10-1 to approve HB-1015, which includes $7 million to provide $1,500 each to 4,000 nonviolent offenders so they can get addiction treatment.
Backers said the bill will pay for itself within three years by lowering recidivism and saving prison costs. "Let's try treatment for a change," said House Speaker Andrew Romanoff (D-Denver), the chief sponsor of the bill. "If the experience of 47 other states and every study on treatment versus incarceration is wrong, this bill will repeal itself."
A legislative analysis concluded that medical savings alone would more than offset the bill's annual price tag. Romanoff noted that it costs the state $30,000 annually to house a prisoner and up to $1,500 per month to place a child of addicted parents in foster care.
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