Foundation for Recovery
4750 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 10
Las Vegas, NV 89102
Phone: (702) 257-8199
Fax: (702) 257-8299

Click to Contact Us

  |  Login
 
You are here: News
Foundation for Recovery News

Obama Administration’s FY 2011 Drug Control Budget Proposal Mixed Bag for Prevention

February 4, 2010

On February 1, the Obama Administration released its Fiscal Year 2011 National Drug Control Budget proposal. The budget proposes an overall increase for drug-related programs, and outlines the development of a new prevention program. However, it proposes a $9 million cut from last year's funding for the Drug Free Communities (DFC) program.

“CADCA is very pleased that the proposed budget includes an exciting new focus on prevention, through programs such as the Prevention Prepared Communities program, which would help communities develop effective mental health and substance abuse prevention efforts. We look forward to hopefully working with the Administration to help craft how that new program will work,” said CADCA Chairman and CEO Gen. Arthur Dean.

Another aspect of the budget that CADCA applauds is the proposed $1 million increase to the enhancement grants for the STOP Underage Drinking Act program.

However, Gen. Dean noted that the cut to the DFC program is something we cannot ignore.

"At a time when youth attitudes about drug use have softened, it was disappointing to see a proposed $9 million cut from last year’s funding level for the Drug Free Communities (DFC) program, a program specifically designed to prevent drug use that has been extremely effective. Communities with DFC grantees have not only delayed the onset of youth drug and alcohol use, they have reduced youth drug use, tobacco use and underage drinking to levels lower than national averages,” he said.

The DFC program provides funding to more than 700 community coalitions located throughout the country and U.S. territories. DFC coalitions assess their local community’s substance abuse problem, use that data to develop comprehensive community-wide prevention strategies and track their progress over time.

“Therefore, while the renewed focus on prevention is a welcome development, which we wholeheartedly support, we will continue to ensure that the solid foundation of the Drug Free Communities program, which reduces drug use and its consequences in hundreds of communities, is enhanced as well,” Gen. Dean added.


Citizen Advocates Call on Insurance Companies to Fully Implement Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act

January 29, 2010

WASHINGTON, DC — Citizen advocates hailed the federal government’s release of interim regulations to implement the Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act and called on all insurance companies to comply with the new regulations. "The regulations are out, and not a moment too soon," said Stephen Gumbley, vice chair of the national recovery advocacy organization Faces & Voices of Recovery. "Some insurance companies have already put plans in place that fall short of this law’s intent, severely restricting patients’ access to life-saving care. This needs to change and we encourage individuals and families covered by these plans to ask them to fully implement policies consistent with this new law."

The law, officially known as the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 requires employer-sponsored health plans to cover addiction and mental illness on a comparable level with other health conditions. An estimated 100 million Americans and their families will benefit from equitable coverage for addiction and mental illness care under the law. Three federal agencies – the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Treasury – were involved in writing the regulations that implement the law.

"I am extremely pleased The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 is now effective for health care plans which began this year. The regulations released today provide the critical guidance necessary to ensure that this landmark legislation is implemented fairly and justly, and will ensure that insurance companies are no longer allowed to discriminate against those suffering from addiction and mental illness," said Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI).

Kennedy and former Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-MN) were leaders in the bi-partisan, decade-long fight to unlock the door for people who have been denied adequate coverage.

According to Ramstad, "The next step is making sure that the American people know about their new rights and benefits and how to use them. We want to make sure that people get the care required under the law."

Some companies such as United Healthcare and Blue Cross/Blue Shield, have created new plans that exclude some benefits that should be offered under the new regulations such as methadone maintenance treatment, discriminatory limits on outpatient treatments, and other addiction treatment services.

"In the absence of regulatory guidance, some insurance companies released plans which fall far short of what Congress intended," said Gumbley. "Faces & Voices calls on Americans with private health insurance coverage from companies like United Healthcare and Blue Cross/Blue Shield to make sure that their plans comply with the new federal regulations." Over 400 comments were reviewed by federal regulators while developing the interim regulations released today. "We believe that the regulations will provide excellent guidance for health plans and make critical services available that have been denied for far too long," said Gumbley.

When people are treated for addiction, the costs associated with crime, accidents, absenteeism from work and other areas are all reduced. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, when savings related to health care are included, total savings can exceed treatment costs by a ratio of 12 to 1. "When people get the treatment they need and recover from addiction, expensive health care costs for emergency room visits and addiction-related illness will go down," concluded Gumbley.

About Faces & Voices of Recovery

Faces & Voices of Recovery is working to mobilize, organize and rally the millions of people in recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs, their families, friends and allies in a campaign to end discrimination; broaden social understanding; and achieve a just response to addiction as a public health crisis. For more information, please visit: www.facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.

Click to download this Press Release 


Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act Rules Issued

January 29, 2010

By Michael Velardo
Detroit Substance Abuse Examiner

The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 interim rules were issued by the Obama administration and showcased on January 29, 2010.

The law is officially known as the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008. The law essentially requires employer-sponsored health plans to provide coverage for addiction and mental illness on a level consistent with other health problems.

Summary of MHPAEA Protections according to the U.S. Health and Human Services:

"The Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 (MHPA) states that a group health plan may not impose annual or lifetime dollar limits on mental health benefits that are less favorable than any such limits imposed on medical surgical benefits.

MHPAEA preserves the MHPA protections, and adds significant new protections. Although the law requires "parity", or equivalence, with regard to annual and lifetime dollar limits, financial requirements and treatment limitations, MHPAEA does NOT require large group health plans and their health insurance issuers to include MH/SUD benefits in their benefits package. The law's requirements apply only to large group health plans and their health insurance issuers that already include MH/SUD benefits in their benefit packages.

Key changes made by MHPAEA, which is generally effective for plan years beginning after October 3, 2009, include the following:

• If a group health plan includes medical/surgical benefits and mental health benefits, the financial requirements (e.g., deductibles and co-payments) and treatment limitations (e.g., number of visits or days of coverage) that apply to mental health benefits must be no more restrictive than the predominant financial requirements or treatment limitations that apply to substantially all medical/surgical benefits;

• If a group health plan includes medical/surgical benefits and substance use disorder benefits, the financial requirements and treatment limitations that apply to substance use disorder benefits must be no more restrictive than the predominant financial requirements or treatment limitations that apply to substantially all medical/surgical benefits;

• MH/SUD benefits may not be subject to any separate cost sharing requirements or treatment limitations that only apply to such benefits;

• If a group health plan includes medical/surgical benefits and mental health benefits, and the plan provides for out of network medical/surgical benefits, it must provide for out of network mental health benefits;

• If a group health plan includes medical/surgical benefits and substance use disorder benefits, and the plan provides for out of network medical/surgical benefits, it must provide for out of network substance use disorder benefits;

• Standards for medical necessity determinations and reasons for any denial of benefits relating to MH/SUD, must be disclosed upon request;

• The MHPA parity requirements under existing law (regarding annual and lifetime dollar limits) continue and are extended to substance use disorder benefits."

There are three exceptions to the MHPAEA coverage according to HHS:

• MHPAEA requirements do not apply to small employers who have between 2 and 50 employees;

• Large group health plan sponsors that meet the requirements stated in the MHPAEA download below (Section 512(a)(2) Cost Exemption) and demonstrate that compliance with MHPAEA increases their claims by at least two percent in the first year (one percent in subsequent years) may request exemption from the MHPAEA based on their cost exemption. Subsequently, the plan sponsors may notify the plan beneficiaries that MHPAEA does not apply to their coverage; and

• A nonfederal governmental employer that provides self-funded group health plan coverage to its employees (coverage that is not provided through an insurer) may elect to exempt its plan (opt-out) from the requirements of MHPAEA by following the Procedures & Requirements posted on the Self-Funded Nonfederal Governmental Plans webpage (see Related Links Inside CMS), then issuing a notice of opt-out to enrollees at the time of enrollment and on an annual basis. Thereafter, the employer must also file the opt-out notification with CMS."

The effective date of the final rules will be on April 5, 2010, and apply to insurance plan years that start on or after July 1, 2010.

"Administration officials estimate that 150 million Americans are covered by employer-provided health plans, 90 percent or more of which currently include addiction and mental-health benefits and thus would be subject to the Wellstone law," according to Join Together.

The MHPAEA law

HIPAA

"Medicare and Medicaid are not issuers of health insurance. They are public health plans through which individuals obtain health coverage. Medicaid Managed Care plans, however, are subject to the MHPAEA requirements. Contact your specific Medicare or Medicaid contractor to discuss your level of benefits," according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

SAMHSA advisory

This Act, and the rules that define it, are something that people in America have needed for a long time. Hopefully, the intent of the Act will live up to its expectations, and provide those with these conditions treatment that is neither compromised, or limited in nature.


Stuart Smith Elected to Faces & Voices of Recovery Board of Directors

July 2, 2009

LAS VEGAS, NV — We are pleased to announce that Stuart Smith, Chairman of the Board of Foundation for Recovery, was recently elected to the Faces & Voices of Recovery Board of Directors.

Faces & Voices of Recovery is the national organization of individuals and organizations joining together with a united voice to advocate for public action to deliver the power, possibility, and proof of recovery from addiction. Faces & Voices of Recovery is working to mobilize, organize, and rally the millions of people in recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs, their families, friends, and allies in a campaign to end discrimination; broaden social understanding; and achieve a just response to addiction as a public health crisis. For more information, please visit www.facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.

Foundation for Recovery is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Foundation’s mission is to make recovery from addiction more available to the addict who still suffers. The Foundation strives to remove barriers by propagating the availability of recovery for addicts and their family and friends. The Foundation continues to challenge the social stereotypes of who is affected by the disease of addiction and the prognosis of recovery. All of the efforts are inspired by the principles exhibited in the lives of addicts who have found and continue to live in recovery. For more information, please visit www.forrecovery.org.

###

Note to Media: To request more information, please contact Jeff Horn at 702.868.5803 or JHorn@ForRecovery.org.


Green Valley High School Drug Testing Program Up and Running

February 6, 2008

Las Vegas, NV — The Foundation for Recovery's $5,000 donation to the Green Valley High School drug testing program for atheletes was covered
in an article at the Las Vegas Sun.

The program is the first of its kind at a public school in Nevada. The school plans to test about 30 students each month. All student-athletes are subject to testing, as are any other students whose parents request they be eligible.

The Foundation for Recovery supports programs for the prevention and treatment of drug and alcohol abuse and addiction in the community.


The Foundation on KLAS TV 8

Foundation for Recovery is profiled by KLAS-TV 8 news anchor Paula Francis.


Support the Foundation

DonateNow 

 

eBay Giving Works 

GoodSearch: You Search...We Give!

Follow the Foundation
Documents 

National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month

Click for GuideStar Profile


Bookmark and Share

For more information on Parity Legislation HR1424, please click here.

 

Terms Of Use  |  Privacy Statement
Home  |  About Us  |  Donations  |  Events  |  News  |  Research  |  Resources  |  Store  |  Contact
Copyright 2010 by Foundation for Recovery