Massachusetts governor signs measure expanding drug treatment

[riky]

Massachusetts governor signs measure expanding drug treatment

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed a bill into law on Wednesday requiring health insurers to cover up to two weeks of inpatient treatment for people battling drug addiction, the state's latest move to take on soaring rates of opioid drug abuse. The measure is intended to make accessing treatment for drug addiction on par with other medical treatments, which experts see as a key step to reduce the rising rate of deaths by drug overdose. More than 16,000 people die in the United States each year from overdoses of prescription painkillers alone, with more succumbing to heroin and other illegal narcotics. "This law puts Massachusetts on the leading edge of access to addiction treatment and recovery services," Patrick, a Democrat, said at a statehouse ceremony to sign the bill.

Source: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login