RAMSTAD, COLEMAN INTRODUCE CHEMICAL
DEPENDENCY TREATMENT LEGISLATION

SAINT PAUL -- U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-MN) today held a press conference with U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) on legislation they have introduced, the “Help Expand Access to Recovery and Treatment (HEART) Act of 2003," to expand access to chemical dependency treatment.

The HEART Act, H.R. 2256, would prohibit health insurers from erecting discriminatory barriers to chemical dependency treatment, such as co-payments, deductibles or limited treatment stays that are different from other medical and surgical services.

"Ensuring access to treatment for those who need it will not only combat alcohol and drug addiction, but will save health care dollars in the long run," said Ramstad. “Expanding access to treatment is not only the right thing to do, it’s also the cost-effective thing to do.”

“This is literally a life-or-death issue for 16 million Americans who are chemically dependent, covered by health insurance, but unable to access adequate treatment,” said Ramstad.

“The American Medical Association recognized alcoholism as a disease in 1956,” said Ramstad. “People living with chemical dependency have been discriminated against by our nation’s health care system for far too long. It’s time to knock down the barriers to chemical dependency treatment and end the discrimination against people with addiction.”

“Congress must get real about the problem of addiction in America,” said Ramstad. “It’s long past time to address the number one public health problem facing our nation – the problem of chemical addiction and the need to expand access to treatment.”

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