Kupchick Looking to Change Insurance For Long-Term Addiction, Mental Health Treatment

From CT House Republicans: State Rep. Brenda Kupchick (R-Fairfield) has proposed two insurance proposals this session to increase health care coverage for those who need long-term addiction and mental illness treatment.

The goal of Rep. Kupchick’s bill is to require health insurance coverage for long-term addiction treatment especially in light of the recent legislation passed that to address opioid addiction.

“Since the tragedy in Newtown and most recently with growing opioid addiction crisis, I've had the chance to meet with families in Fairfield and around the state that face serious challenges finding treatment covered by insurance for their family members who suffer from mental illness or addiction,” said Rep. Kupchick.

“Mental health should be covered exactly the same as physical health. If you have serious physical disease, you're treated until you're in remission or cured, if you suffer from mental illness or an opiate addiction, many times people are only covered for short-term treatment instead of proven long-term treatment that gives individuals a chance of recovery,” Rep. Kupchick, who been working to improve mental health coverage in our state since she became a state legislator.

“Without long-term coverage for addiction, we as a state cannot truly solve our opioid addiction epidemic,” said Rep. Kupchick.

The bill, HB-5441, An Act Requiring Health Insurance Coverage for Long-Term Addiction Treatment, has been reserved by the Insurance and Real Estate committee for a public hearing in the next few weeks.

Additionally, Rep. Kupchick also has proposed a bill HB-5440, An Act Expanding Health Insurance Coverage for the Treatment of Mental or Nervous Conditions which would look to expand health insurance coverage for the treatment of mental or nervous conditions by requiring health insurance coverage for those with these conditions.

Photo courtesy of CT House Republicans