Reduce Excessive Funding
What do you do if hundreds of millions of dollars are being fraudulently siphoned out of addiction treatment to pay for operators' Lamborghinis and personal estates? If you are the California Legislature, you listen to national nonprofits who CLAIM:
- there isn't enough money in private health insurance plans for addiction treatment,
- insurance should cover addiction treatment without end,
- insurance companies should be mandated to pay whatever benefits were hastily assigned to a faked diagnosis.
Don't forget as well that the government can always spend additional taxpayer dollars on unnecessary tax credits, Covid Pay Protection Programs or SBA loans, all without being held accountable for the staggering costs of ineffective treatment offered by subpar operators.
Advocates for Responsible Treatment works to educate the Legislature that it cannot continue wasting vast quantities of money on unproven, non-evidence-based treatment in order to pretend it is making a difference in the Opioid Crisis. Likewise, the total pie of health insurance funds, both private and public, could be far more equitably distributed to those in need. In the meantime, we oppose additional spending on the existing inadequate forms of addiction treatment and housing without restrictions that address rampant fraud.
2020 - Wiener - SB 855 (OPPOSE)
Creates layer of "medical necessity" on top of federal definition of essential health benefits. Unintentionally pushes addicts into higher levels of care when there is ambiguity. Allows treatment for "appropriate duration" based on patient needs, which will become however long the Treatment Center needs, rather than specific time limits. Removes insurance company’s ability to stop payment in cases of suspected fraud. This is a cash cow for the addiction treatment industry.
2019 - Hueso - SB 422
Tax credits to businesses that provide job training to employees of rehabs. We have no faith that proper training will be provided, and this just sends tax credits to rehab businesses.
- there isn't enough money in private health insurance plans for addiction treatment,
- insurance should cover addiction treatment without end,
- insurance companies should be mandated to pay whatever benefits were hastily assigned to a faked diagnosis.
Don't forget as well that the government can always spend additional taxpayer dollars on unnecessary tax credits, Covid Pay Protection Programs or SBA loans, all without being held accountable for the staggering costs of ineffective treatment offered by subpar operators.
Advocates for Responsible Treatment works to educate the Legislature that it cannot continue wasting vast quantities of money on unproven, non-evidence-based treatment in order to pretend it is making a difference in the Opioid Crisis. Likewise, the total pie of health insurance funds, both private and public, could be far more equitably distributed to those in need. In the meantime, we oppose additional spending on the existing inadequate forms of addiction treatment and housing without restrictions that address rampant fraud.
2020 - Wiener - SB 855 (OPPOSE)
Creates layer of "medical necessity" on top of federal definition of essential health benefits. Unintentionally pushes addicts into higher levels of care when there is ambiguity. Allows treatment for "appropriate duration" based on patient needs, which will become however long the Treatment Center needs, rather than specific time limits. Removes insurance company’s ability to stop payment in cases of suspected fraud. This is a cash cow for the addiction treatment industry.
2019 - Hueso - SB 422
Tax credits to businesses that provide job training to employees of rehabs. We have no faith that proper training will be provided, and this just sends tax credits to rehab businesses.