The House Committee on Corporations has recommended passage of legislation introduced by Rep. Patricia Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick) that would keep insurers from terminating residential or inpatient substance abuse treatment for patients currently in treatment. Serpa introduced the bill at the behest of the attorney general.

The legislation would provide that an insurer may not deny continued residential or inpatient treatment coverage due to medical necessity and appropriateness of treatment under Rhode Island law if the subscriber has been admitted and is currently in residential or inpatient services for a mental health and/or substance use disorder and the provider of treatment has recommended continued residential or inpatient treatment.

“As long as the prescriber or doctor is making diagnosis recommendations that are consistent with the standards of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, we should not be releasing patients back in to society before they are ready,” said Serpa. “Years of mental or societal instability can often not be undone in a two-week hospital stay. We end up spending more money by releasing these individuals back to society before they are ready. They are often re-admitted for worse or more serious offenses. Getting it right after the first round of treatment increases that persons chances of becoming a citizen who can function and work in society.”

Rhode Island, on some level, has recognized mental health and substance abuse disorder parity since 1994. However, Attorney General Kilmartin believes the state needs to make sure that parity is justly acknowledged by insurance providers. It is well known in this State, and across the country, that one of the biggest barriers to recovery is access to necessary treatment. In fact, many have suffered relapses, because they were released from inpatient treatment far earlier than they were ready for. This is most disturbing in those suffering from heroin and prescription opiate use disorders as this when they are most vulnerable to overdose.

The legislation is cosponsored by Representatives Deborah A. Fellela (D-Dist. 43, Johnston), Robert B. Jacquard (D-Dist. 17, Cranston), Mia Ackerman (D-Dist. 45, Cumberland, Lincoln) and Camille F.J. Vella-Wilkinson (D-Dist. 21, Warwick).