Addiction Treatment Providers Doing More With Less

Addiction Treatment Providers Doing More With Less

In Wisconsin, more than 120,000 people are currently unable to gain access to treatment for alcohol or drug dependence. To family and friends trying to help a loved one, the many obstacles standing in their way can seem insurmountable. With appointment wait times often approaching three weeks or longer and costs of care becoming prohibitively expensive, only one in four people with alcohol and drug addictions is able to get treatment.

Despite the fact that virtually everyone has a relative, coworker, friend, or neighbor who has had problems with alcohol or drugs, the difficulties in getting into and completing a treatment program are not often publicly discussed. Public stigma further compounds the problems of a system that is alarmingly overburdened. Health insurance policies often do not cover treatment of alcohol or drug dependency; and, when they do, it's often the first thing cut when funds get tight.

In Congress, I'm working to address the problem in several ways. Last spring, I introduced the Health Security for All Americans Act. This legislation would provide health care for all by encouraging the states to expand coverage through various methods of their own choosing and providing them with the funds to do so. Equally important, the legislation sets standards for the level of coverage and includes parity for mental health and substance abuse treatment benefits. This means that no limitations or financial requirements could be imposed on the treatment of mental illness or substance abuse that are not also imposed on other medical and surgical benefits. I am also proud to be a member of the Congressional Caucus on Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery issues, and seek to highlight the need for increased access to treatment through this Caucus' activities.

I'm pleased to report that exciting work is being done on this issue right here in Wisconsin. Last year, the University of Wisconsin - Madison, along with The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, launched a national program to help treatment providers find innovative ways to meet their many challenges. The Network for the Improvement of Addiction Treatment, or NIATx, works with providers who are trying to treat more people with fewer resources. The 29 participating organizations are applying business and quality improvement principles, developed in the private sector by corporations such as Toyota, to reduce wait times to get into treatment and the number of no-shows for treatment while increasing admissions to treatment and the number of those continuing in treatment.

NIATx agencies instituted dramatic improvements in access to treatment and retention, proving that dramatic change may be a lot simpler, less time consuming, and less costly than is often presumed. They're also developing new ideas and tools to share with the rest of the treatment field.

As we recognize National Recovery Month throughout September, it's important to recognize and salute the dedicated and determined addiction treatment providers. Nationwide, they are struggling to provide people with services that are desperately needed. Braving incredible odds and working with scarce resources, they are still finding ways to treat more and more people. Their innovative efforts, including those spearheaded by the NIATx program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, provide vital services to ensure that our loved ones receive the care and treatment they need.