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. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
More about the Opioid Crisis
- Senator Baldwin Calls on House to Pass Bill that Cracks Down on Fentanyl Traffickers - U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin - Feb 15th, 2024
- Attorney General Josh Kaul announces $350 million settlement with marketing firm over its role in opioid epidemic - Wisconsin Department of Justice - Feb 1st, 2024
- Grants Will Fund Recovery Housing For Those Facing Homelessness and Battling Opioids - Margaret Faust - Jan 12th, 2024
- Baldwin Helps Advance Bipartisan Bill to Address Opioid and Fentanyl Crisis - U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin - Dec 14th, 2023
- DHS and DOJ Announce Dose of Reality Roundtable Discussions on Wisconsin’s Opioid Epidemic - Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Dec 6th, 2023
- Limited Supply of Narcan Prevents Milwaukee Groups From Saving Lives - Edgar Mendez - Dec 1st, 2023
- MUPD, Wisconsin Voices for Recovery partner to install Nalox-ZONE boxes on Marquette campus - Marquette University - Oct 12th, 2023
- MKE County: Drug Settlements Could Help Expand Opioid Addiction Programs - Graham Kilmer - Sep 21st, 2023
- DHS Awards Funding to Law Enforcement Agencies Working to Address the Opioid Epidemic - Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Sep 21st, 2023
- Milwaukee County Announces Locations of 11 ‘Harm Reduction Vending Machines’ to Combat Death from Overdose - County Executive David Crowley - Aug 8th, 2023
Read more about Opioid Crisis here
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