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Resolutions Adopted at the
67th Annual Conference of Mayors
New Orleans, Louisiana
June 11-15, 1999 |
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HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
FULL PARITY FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT
SERVICES
WHEREAS, any comprehensive and rational response to the substance abuse epidemic in
our cities must both provide federal resources for public treatment, and also work in
partnership with private health care providers to provide treatment to premium-paying
consumers at reasonable cost; and
WHEREAS, a study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA) concludes that on average, full parity for substance abuse
services is estimated to increase health care premiums by a mere 3.6 percent, less than 1
percent for health maintenance organizations (HMOs) that tightly manage care; and
WHEREAS, the federal Medicaid program, the primary source of health care funding
for low-income individuals without private health care insurance, places unnecessary
restrictions on coverage for alcohol and drug treatment services, and further does not
require that these services be covered; and
WHEREAS, researchers at the Rand Corporation have determined that it costs
managed care plans just $5.11 per person each year to provide unlimited substance abuse
benefits—only six cents more than a plan that limits each person’s annual costs
to $10,000; and
WHEREAS, the National Association for Children of Alcoholics reports that
substance abuse is one of the top two problems exhibited by families in 81 percent of
reported cases to state protective services; and
WHEREAS, a University of Maryland Center for Substance Abuse Research study
found that 55 percent of the costs of alcohol and other drug abuse are borne by
governments, private insurance companies and victims; and
WHEREAS, parity provides the opportunity for the greatest number of consumers to
access treatment on demand, and ultimately decreases costs to society,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors fully
supports federal legislation providing full parity for substance abuse services, and
pledges to work with Congress, the Administration, and other stakeholders to pass such
legislation as soon as possible; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors urges the
Administration and Congress to work together to make alcohol and drug treatment required
services under Medicaid, and to remove any unnecessary statutory provisions which restrict
access to substance abuse treatment services under the program.
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