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A distinguished woridng group of 19 experts in drug abuse research and treatment convened by 

 CASA in collaboration with The Brown University Center of Alcohol and Addiction studies, 

 concluded in March of this year, that "the inclusion of a substance abuse treatment benefit is a 

 vital part of true health system reform. " In response to this concern, the group designed a low- 

 cost comprehensive benefit package.' 



Increasing Access 



In addition to expanding the services covered under existing programs, we need to ensure that 

 no one who needs help is excluded by virtue of being ineligible for coverage. Currently, low- 

 income male IV drug users between the ages of 21 and 64 are ineligible to participate in the 

 Medicaid program. 



Finally, we need to target prevention and treatment efforts to high-cost, vulnerable individuals. 

 Services must be made more accessible to attract at-risk but hard-to-reach individuals in inner 

 city schools, shelters, community health centers, etc. Pregnant women are a particularly 

 important group to reach. Substance abuse-related complications of newborns account for a 

 staggering 32.3% of all Medicaid hospital days. Yet many treatment centers will not treat 

 pregnant women because of concerns about legal liability. The GAO estimated that only about 

 1 1 % of the pregnant women in need of drug treatment actually receive care. 



'This document, available through CASA, was entitled 'Recommendations on Substance Abuse 

 Coverage and Health Care Reform. ' The paper was issued in March of this year. 



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