Ald. Tony Zielinski to Sponsor Legislation to Ensure Proper Coverage for City Employees Struggling with Addiction and Other Mental Health Problems
Statement of Alderman Tony Zielinski - December 17, 2018
As Milwaukee and the region continue to experience the devastating effects of the heroin and opiate addiction epidemic, I am introducing legislation to ensure proper addiction and mental health treatment coverage for all city employees.
I will ask the chair of the Finance and Personnel Committee to schedule a communication from the Department of Employee Relations to make certain that the City’s primary health care insurance carrier covers addiction and mental health treatment consistent with federal parity laws and does not limit addiction and mental health services by requiring burdensome prior authorizations or by limiting provider networks or benefits – especially as compared to other medical services.
Unfortunately, we are seeing health insurance carriers playing games with coverage for badly-needed addiction and mental health treatment services. This is an unacceptable obstacle for those who are working to address their addiction issues and get the treatment they need to return to leading productive and healthy lives. Health insurance carriers engaging in these activities are causing cities like ours to lose millions of dollars each year in reduced productivity and the inherently higher costs of deferred treatment.
If the policies offered to our employees our found to be deficient in this area, I will sponsor legislation to set this matter right.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
More about the Opioid Crisis
- Serenity Inns: A Proven Lifesaving Facility Denied Critical State Funding - Serenity Inns - Nov 19th, 2024
- Milwaukee County Outreach Team Going Door-to-Door Handing Out Narcan in High Overdose Areas - Evan Casey - Nov 14th, 2024
- DHS Launches New System to Help Communities Track and Respond to Overdose - Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Nov 14th, 2024
- Attorney General Kaul and Bipartisan Coalition of 30 States Announce Settlement with Kroger Over Opioid Crisis - Wisconsin Department of Justice - Nov 6th, 2024
- Baldwin Calls on Biden Administration to Investigate China’s Role in Fueling the Fentanyl Crisis - U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin - Oct 23rd, 2024
- Baldwin Brings Home $750,000 for Northeastern Wisconsin to Combat Fentanyl and Opioid Epidemic - U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin - Sep 27th, 2024
- AG Kaul Meets with EMS Leave Behind Program Recipients - Wisconsin Department of Justice - Sep 17th, 2024
- MKE County: Crowley Signs Opioid Program Funding - Graham Kilmer - Sep 10th, 2024
- Serenity Inns Opens New Addiction Treatment Center in Milwaukee - Serenity Inns - Aug 14th, 2024
- MKE County: County Nearly Doubles Narcan Vending Machines - Graham Kilmer - Aug 12th, 2024
Read more about Opioid Crisis here
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