Gov. John Carney on Tuesday signed into law Senate Bill 41, House Bill 91, and House Bill 100, a package of legislation aimed at dealing with the state’s addiction crisis.
Governor Carney signed the legislation during a ceremony that included remarks from Attorney General Matt Denn, members of the General Assembly, and Delaware advocates for improved access to substance abuse treatment – including families who have lost loved ones to Delaware’s opioid epidemic.
“Far too many Delawareans, and Delaware families, have been affected by this crisis,” said Carney. “These new laws represent a significant step forward in our efforts to combat Delaware’s addiction epidemic. To the Delaware families who have lost loved ones to addiction, and who are now fighting to prevent others from experiencing the same fate, your work is nothing short of inspiring. To the Delawareans who are using your own experience with substance abuse to help others, know that you are making a difference. We will continue to follow your lead. Thank you to Attorney General Denn and members of the General Assembly for your continued urgency on this issue.”
“I truly feel that every life matters,” said MaryBeth Cichocki, who lost her son to opioid addiction, and advocated for the new laws. “We are all one injury or surgery away from the disease that continues to take the lives of those we love. As long as I breathe, Matt will continue to live.”
The package will:
- Prevent private insurers from using pre-authorization and referral requirements to delay access to substance abuse treatment;
- Require insurance companies to cover 14 days of substance abuse treatment before conducting a “utilization review” that can delay treatment;
- Limit insurance companies from denying substance abuse treatment based on “medical necessity” grounds;
- Allow the Department of Justice to use consumer protection funds to advocate for those being denied coverage based on “medical necessity” grounds;
- Establish a new committee to help oversee opioid prescriptions, and strengthen the oversight of over-prescription.