DENVER — U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) hosted a press conference today at Sobriety House, where her mother was treated for a substance use disorder, to announce her new bill to address the opioid epidemic – the Recovery Act. Pettersen’s announcement was made alongside her mother, who just celebrated her 7-year anniversary in recovery. Pettersen introduced the Recovery Act today in honor of her mother’s sobriety anniversary and the beginning of National Recovery Month. Pettersen was also joined today by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and local experts, advocates, and leaders in the substance use disorder recovery space.
The Recovery Act removes outdated residential substance use disorder (SUD) treatment limitations for people on Medicaid, ensures evidence-based care, and helps states draw down federal dollars to do so. This new piece of legislation establishes a new state Medicaid plan option that covers the number of days of detox, inpatient, and residential SUD treatment a patient medically needs. To incentivize states to adopt this new option, this bill draws down federal dollars by increasing the federal match to state funds for the first five years of implementation and offers planning grants to states opting in.
Pettersen saw first-hand how broken the system was in her fight to save her mom’s life from an opioid addiction. Like far too many Coloradans, she found out that Medicaid only covered the cost of detox for up to 3 days and did not cover in-patient or residential care. Rep. Pettersen had to get a court order to get her mother the treatment she desperately needed. She later took her fight to the Colorado legislature to direct the state to apply for a waiver through Medicaid to cover detox, residential, and in-patient SUD treatment.
During the first three years of the waiver, Medicaid member access to SUD residential and inpatient services increased by 150% for individuals with an opioid use disorder. In one year alone, more than 12,000 Coloradans on Medicaid received residential substance use disorder care. While Colorado has made great strides, there are still significant barriers that exist at the federal level to provide the necessary continuum of care. Currently, state Medicaid programs cannot cover stays in residential facilities for the treatment of substance use disorder (SUD) that are more than 15 days without applying for a waiver from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
That’s why Rep. Pettersen introduced the Recovery Act to streamline the process by removing outdated treatment limitations, ensuring evidence-based care, and increasing the federal reimbursement rate to incentivize states to opt into the plan. The bill would also provide grant funding to states to assist in implementing the state plan option.
The location of the announcement, Sobriety House, is particularly meaningful to Pettersen as her own mother, Stacy, was treated there for a substance use disorder after a 30-year long struggle with opioids, heroin and fentanyl. After Stacy overdosed 20 times in one year and 3 times in a single day, Rep. Pettersen was finally able to get funding for the care she needed through a court order.
Stacy recently celebrated her 70th birthday and her seventh year in recovery. She serves as a powerful example of what’s possible when people gain access to the treatment and services they need. Unfortunately, far too many people aren’t as lucky. Pettersen’s bill, the Recovery Act, is in honor of her mom’s struggle and others like her who are often left behind and forgotten. This bill will ensure people across the nation have access to the medical care they desperately need and are able to rebuild their lives and live in recovery.
The introduction also marks the beginning of September as National Recovery Month which is observed to recognize the more than 21 million Americans in recovery from substance use disorder. Observed every September, National Recovery Month began in 1989 to honor the strength and resilience of the recovery community and promote evidence-based treatment and recovery practices.
The Recovery Act will streamline the process for states to opt-in to covering vital care through Medicaid, break down the outdated time limits for care, and increase the reimbursement rate for SUD treatment for 5 years to support states in addressing the opioid and overdose epidemic.
“My mom wouldn’t be alive today without finally getting the medical care she needed,” said Pettersen. “My mom is an example of what’s possible when people struggling with substance use disorder have access to the resources and support they need, but I know she was one of the lucky ones. Far too many people are left without care because of the stigma associated with addiction and the lack of funding and priorities at every level of government.”
“We must reduce the stigma around opioid addiction and those in recovery. More support for treatment is needed because too many people lack access to treatment or have inadequate treatment. This crisis continues to take and harm lives, and we must do more. I appreciate Rep. Pettersen’s leadership and her courage telling her and her mom’s story,” - Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser
“The expansion of Medicaid to provide coverage for residential SUD treatment services will significantly increase our ability as providers to serve more clients and fulfill our mission. Without this coverage, state and federal funding is limited, and access to care is difficult for those needing help. The change in legislation will allow for expanded access, which is imperative.” - Crystal Ahles, Executive Director of Sobriety House.
“Our nation is experiencing a behavioral health crisis. Many people with mental health conditions also face co-occurring substance use disorders, but arbitrary barriers often keep people from getting the support and care they need. NAMI applauds Representative Pettersen for introducing the Recovery Act to increase comprehensive coverage of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment in Medicaid and improve access to behavioral health care. This is a critical step toward making sure that individuals receive the appropriate care they need, when they need it. NAMI is proud to support this legislation.” - Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
"Too often, people who are struggling with substance use disorders do not get the right level of treatment when they need it, and treatment is cut short because of payer authorization requirements and length of stay limits. It is heartbreaking to witness how many lives are lost when treatment ends too early. Recovery for substance use disorders is possible. And it requires a seamless progression of care tailored to the unique person’s treatment and wrap-around support needs." - Kiara Kuenzeler, President and CEO of the Jefferson Center
“Meeting the complex needs of individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) requires a continuum of treatment and recovery services, which too often are not available for low-income patients. The Colorado Hospital Association (CHA) recently convened a group of Colorado-based clinical experts on this issue, and the group affirmed our longstanding position that aligning Medicaid’s coverage for inpatient and residential care is key to providing adequate SUD treatment. CHA strongly supports Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen’s (D-CO) legislation in meeting this goal by proposing to strengthen Medicaid program resources by increasing the federal match to 90 percent for states that opt-in and the creation of a new state Medicaid plan option to improve coverage based on the individual patient’s needs across the continuum of residential, inpatient, and detox SUD treatments in Institutions of Mental Disease,” - The Colorado Hospital Association.
"If we want to create a culture that promotes recovery, we need to allow time to heal. Our brains and bodies are extremely resilient if we give them enough time to develop new pathways. One of the things my team and I loved about the Recovery Act, is it will allow more time for better transitions of care for our patients. People will benefit not only from more time to heal their bodies in a safe environment, but also to establish the necessary support to maintain their recovery after leaving a 24/7 care facility." - Mandy Kaisner, CEO of Solvista Health.
“My name is Tonya Wheeler, and I am a woman living in active and long-term recovery for over 34 years (since May 23, 1990). I am the Executive Director of Advocates for Recovery Colorado. One of the hardest decisions for an individual to make is to ask for help when they are battling active addiction due to the stigma and discrimination against our community. The ability for a person to get access to treatment at the appropriate level of care is imperative. The allowance for Medicaid to pay for these services provides a life saving solution to this problem.” - Tonya Wheeler Executive Director of Advocates for Recovery Colorado.
Numerous local and national organizations have endorsed the Recovery Act including Solvista, Jefferson Center, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Association for Behavioral Healthcare, Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, Young People in Recovery, Colorado Providers Association, Colorado Hospital Association, Mental Health Colorado, Women's Recovery, CU Anschutz, Denver Health, Naloxone Project, Advocates for Recovery, Sobriety House.
Click here for the full text of the bill
The Recovery Act is just the latest in Pettersen’s ongoing efforts to address the drug epidemic in the United States. In the Colorado state legislature, she spent a decade championing policies to improve access to substance use disorder treatment and has been working on the federal level to attack the opioid crisis head-on. Last year Petersen introduced the The Hospitals As Naloxone Distribution Sites (HANDS) Act to require Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE to cover the cost when medical providers physically hand naloxone, the overdose-reversal drug, to patients who are at risk of an overdose, before they are discharged, at zero cost to the patient. Pettersen has also introduced measures to address everything from the import of synthetic opioids like fentanyl, the financing of drug cartels, expanding access to treatment, and preventing overdose deaths by ensuring airplanes, law enforcement and hospitals are able to distribute naloxone when necessary.
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— U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) hosted a press conference today at Sobriety House, where her mother was treated for a substance use disorder, to announce her new bill to address the opioid epidemic – the Recovery Act. Pettersen’s announcement was made alongside her mother, who just celebrated her 7-year anniversary in recovery. Pettersen introduced the Recovery Act today in honor of her mother’s sobriety anniversary and the beginning of National Recovery Month. Pettersen was also joined today by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and local experts, advocates, and leaders in the substance use disorder recovery space.
The Recovery Act removes outdated residential substance use disorder (SUD) treatment limitations for people on Medicaid, ensures evidence-based care, and helps states draw down federal dollars to do so. This new piece of legislation establishes a new state Medicaid plan option that covers the number of days of detox, inpatient, and residential SUD treatment a patient medically needs. To incentivize states to adopt this new option, this bill draws down federal dollars by increasing the federal match to state funds for the first five years of implementation and offers planning grants to states opting in.
Pettersen saw first-hand how broken the system was in her fight to save her mom’s life from an opioid addiction. Like far too many Coloradans, she found out that Medicaid only covered the cost of detox for up to 3 days and did not cover in-patient or residential care. Rep. Pettersen had to get a court order to get her mother the treatment she desperately needed. She later took her fight to the Colorado legislature to direct the state to apply for a waiver through Medicaid to cover detox, residential, and in-patient SUD treatment.
During the first three years of the waiver, Medicaid member access to SUD residential and inpatient services increased by 150% for individuals with an opioid use disorder. In one year alone, more than 12,000 Coloradans on Medicaid received residential substance use disorder care. While Colorado has made great strides, there are still significant barriers that exist at the federal level to provide the necessary continuum of care. Currently, state Medicaid programs cannot cover stays in residential facilities for the treatment of substance use disorder (SUD) that are more than 15 days without applying for a waiver from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
That’s why Rep. Pettersen introduced the Recovery Act to streamline the process by removing outdated treatment limitations, ensuring evidence-based care, and increasing the federal reimbursement rate to incentivize states to opt into the plan. The bill would also provide grant funding to states to assist in implementing the state plan option.
The location of the announcement, Sobriety House, is particularly meaningful to Pettersen as her own mother, Stacy, was treated there for a substance use disorder after a 30-year long struggle with opioids, heroin and fentanyl. After Stacy overdosed 20 times in one year and 3 times in a single day, Rep. Pettersen was finally able to get funding for the care she needed through a court order.
Stacy recently celebrated her 70th birthday and her seventh year in recovery. She serves as a powerful example of what’s possible when people gain access to the treatment and services they need. Unfortunately, far too many people aren’t as lucky. Pettersen’s bill, the Recovery Act, is in honor of her mom’s struggle and others like her who are often left behind and forgotten. This bill will ensure people across the nation have access to the medical care they desperately need and are able to rebuild their lives and live in recovery.
The introduction also marks the beginning of September as National Recovery Month which is observed to recognize the more than 21 million Americans in recovery from substance use disorder. Observed every September, National Recovery Month began in 1989 to honor the strength and resilience of the recovery community and promote evidence-based treatment and recovery practices.
The Recovery Act will streamline the process for states to opt-in to covering vital care through Medicaid, break down the outdated time limits for care, and increase the reimbursement rate for SUD treatment for 5 years to support states in addressing the opioid and overdose epidemic.
“My mom wouldn’t be alive today without finally getting the medical care she needed,” said Pettersen. “My mom is an example of what’s possible when people struggling with substance use disorder have access to the resources and support they need, but I know she was one of the lucky ones. Far too many people are left without care because of the stigma associated with addiction and the lack of funding and priorities at every level of government.”
“We must reduce the stigma around opioid addiction and those in recovery. More support for treatment is needed because too many people lack access to treatment or have inadequate treatment. This crisis continues to take and harm lives, and we must do more. I appreciate Rep. Pettersen’s leadership and her courage telling her and her mom’s story,” - Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser
“The expansion of Medicaid to provide coverage for residential SUD treatment services will significantly increase our ability as providers to serve more clients and fulfill our mission. Without this coverage, state and federal funding is limited, and access to care is difficult for those needing help. The change in legislation will allow for expanded access, which is imperative.” - Crystal Ahles, Executive Director of Sobriety House
“Our nation is experiencing a behavioral health crisis. Many people with mental health conditions also face co-occurring substance use disorders, but arbitrary barriers often keep people from getting the support and care they need. NAMI applauds Representative Pettersen for introducing the Recovery Act to increase comprehensive coverage of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment in Medicaid and improve access to behavioral health care. This is a critical step toward making sure that individuals receive the appropriate care they need, when they need it. NAMI is proud to support this legislation.” - Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
"Too often, people who are struggling with substance use disorders do not get the right level of treatment when they need it, and treatment is cut short because of payer authorization requirements and length of stay limits. It is heartbreaking to witness how many lives are lost when treatment ends too early. Recovery for substance use disorders is possible. And it requires a seamless progression of care tailored to the unique person’s treatment and wrap-around support needs." - Kiara Kuenzeler, President and CEO of the Jefferson Center
“Meeting the complex needs of individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) requires a continuum of treatment and recovery services, which too often are not available for low-income patients. The Colorado Hospital Association (CHA) recently convened a group of Colorado-based clinical experts on this issue, and the group affirmed our longstanding position that aligning Medicaid’s coverage for inpatient and residential care is key to providing adequate SUD treatment. CHA strongly supports Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen’s (D-CO) legislation in meeting this goal by proposing to strengthen Medicaid program resources by increasing the federal match to 90 percent for states that opt-in and the creation of a new state Medicaid plan option to improve coverage based on the individual patient’s needs across the continuum of residential, inpatient, and detox SUD treatments in Institutions of Mental Disease,” - The Colorado Hospital Association.
"If we want to create a culture that promotes recovery, we need to allow time to heal. Our brains and bodies are extremely resilient if we give them enough time to develop new pathways. One of the things my team and I loved about the Recovery Act, is it will allow more time for better transitions of care for our patients. People will benefit not only from more time to heal their bodies in a safe environment, but also to establish the necessary support to maintain their recovery after leaving a 24/7 care facility." - Mandy Kaisner, CEO of Solvista Health.
“My name is Tonya Wheeler, and I am a woman living in active and long-term recovery for over 34 years (since May 23, 1990). I am the Executive Director of Advocates for Recovery Colorado. One of the hardest decisions for an individual to make is to ask for help when they are battling active addiction due to the stigma and discrimination against our community. The ability for a person to get access to treatment at the appropriate level of care is imperative. The allowance for Medicaid to pay for these services provides a life saving solution to this problem.” - Tonya Wheeler Executive Director of Advocates for Recovery Colorado.
Numerous local and national organizations have endorsed the Recovery Act including Solvista, Jefferson Center, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Association for Behavioral Healthcare, Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, Young People in Recovery, Colorado Providers Association, Colorado Hospital Association, Mental Health Colorado, Women's Recovery, CU Anschutz, Denver Health, Naloxone Project, Advocates for Recovery, Sobriety House.
Click here for the full text of the bill
The Recovery Act is just the latest in Pettersen’s ongoing efforts to address the drug epidemic in the United States. In the Colorado state legislature, she spent a decade championing policies to improve access to substance use disorder treatment and has been working on the federal level to attack the opioid crisis head-on. Last year Petersen introduced the The Hospitals As Naloxone Distribution Sites (HANDS) Act to require Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE to cover the cost when medical providers physically hand naloxone, the overdose-reversal drug, to patients who are at risk of an overdose, before they are discharged, at zero cost to the patient. Pettersen has also introduced measures to address everything from the import of synthetic opioids like fentanyl, thefinancing of drug cartels, expanding access to treatment, and preventing overdose deaths by ensuring airplanes, law enforcement and hospitals are able to distribute naloxone when necessary.
DENVER — U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) hosted a press conference today at Sobriety House, where her mother was treated for a substance use disorder, to announce her new bill to address the opioid epidemic – the Recovery Act. Pettersen’s announcement was made alongside her mother, who just celebrated her 7-year anniversary in recovery. Pettersen introduced the Recovery Act today in honor of her mother’s sobriety anniversary and the beginning of National Recovery Month. Pettersen was also joined today by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and local experts, advocates, and leaders in the substance use disorder recovery space.
The Recovery Act removes outdated residential substance use disorder (SUD) treatment limitations for people on Medicaid, ensures evidence-based care, and helps states draw down federal dollars to do so. This new piece of legislation establishes a new state Medicaid plan option that covers the number of days of detox, inpatient, and residential SUD treatment a patient medically needs. To incentivize states to adopt this new option, this bill draws down federal dollars by increasing the federal match to state funds for the first five years of implementation and offers planning grants to states opting in.
Pettersen saw first-hand how broken the system was in her fight to save her mom’s life from an opioid addiction. Like far too many Coloradans, she found out that Medicaid only covered the cost of detox for up to 3 days and did not cover in-patient or residential care. Rep. Pettersen had to get a court order to get her mother the treatment she desperately needed. She later took her fight to the Colorado legislature to direct the state to apply for a waiver through Medicaid to cover detox, residential, and in-patient SUD treatment.
During the first three years of the waiver, Medicaid member access to SUD residential and inpatient services increased by 150% for individuals with an opioid use disorder. In one year alone, more than 12,000 Coloradans on Medicaid received residential substance use disorder care. While Colorado has made great strides, there are still significant barriers that exist at the federal level to provide the necessary continuum of care. Currently, state Medicaid programs cannot cover stays in residential facilities for the treatment of substance use disorder (SUD) that are more than 15 days without applying for a waiver from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
That’s why Rep. Pettersen introduced the Recovery Act to streamline the process by removing outdated treatment limitations, ensuring evidence-based care, and increasing the federal reimbursement rate to incentivize states to opt into the plan. The bill would also provide grant funding to states to assist in implementing the state plan option.
The location of the announcement, Sobriety House, is particularly meaningful to Pettersen as her own mother, Stacy, was treated there for a substance use disorder after a 30-year long struggle with opioids, heroin and fentanyl. After Stacy overdosed 20 times in one year and 3 times in a single day, Rep. Pettersen was finally able to get funding for the care she needed through a court order.
Stacy recently celebrated her 70th birthday and her seventh year in recovery. She serves as a powerful example of what’s possible when people gain access to the treatment and services they need. Unfortunately, far too many people aren’t as lucky. Pettersen’s bill, the Recovery Act, is in honor of her mom’s struggle and others like her who are often left behind and forgotten. This bill will ensure people across the nation have access to the medical care they desperately need and are able to rebuild their lives and live in recovery.
The introduction also marks the beginning of September as National Recovery Month which is observed to recognize the more than 21 million Americans in recovery from substance use disorder. Observed every September, National Recovery Month began in 1989 to honor the strength and resilience of the recovery community and promote evidence-based treatment and recovery practices.
The Recovery Act will streamline the process for states to opt-in to covering vital care through Medicaid, break down the outdated time limits for care, and increase the reimbursement rate for SUD treatment for 5 years to support states in addressing the opioid and overdose epidemic.
“My mom wouldn’t be alive today without finally getting the medical care she needed,” said Pettersen. “My mom is an example of what’s possible when people struggling with substance use disorder have access to the resources and support they need, but I know she was one of the lucky ones. Far too many people are left without care because of the stigma associated with addiction and the lack of funding and priorities at every level of government.”
“We must reduce the stigma around opioid addiction and those in recovery. More support for treatment is needed because too many people lack access to treatment or have inadequate treatment. This crisis continues to take and harm lives, and we must do more. I appreciate Rep. Pettersen’s leadership and her courage telling her and her mom’s story,” - Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser
“The expansion of Medicaid to provide coverage for residential SUD treatment services will significantly increase our ability as providers to serve more clients and fulfill our mission. Without this coverage, state and federal funding is limited, and access to care is difficult for those needing help. The change in legislation will allow for expanded access, which is imperative.” - Crystal Ahles, Executive Director of Sobriety House
“Our nation is experiencing a behavioral health crisis. Many people with mental health conditions also face co-occurring substance use disorders, but arbitrary barriers often keep people from getting the support and care they need. NAMI applauds Representative Pettersen for introducing the Recovery Act to increase comprehensive coverage of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment in Medicaid and improve access to behavioral health care. This is a critical step toward making sure that individuals receive the appropriate care they need, when they need it. NAMI is proud to support this legislation.” - Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
"Too often, people who are struggling with substance use disorders do not get the right level of treatment when they need it, and treatment is cut short because of payer authorization requirements and length of stay limits. It is heartbreaking to witness how many lives are lost when treatment ends too early. Recovery for substance use disorders is possible. And it requires a seamless progression of care tailored to the unique person’s treatment and wrap-around support needs." - Kiara Kuenzeler, President and CEO of the Jefferson Center
“Meeting the complex needs of individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) requires a continuum of treatment and recovery services, which too often are not available for low-income patients. The Colorado Hospital Association (CHA) recently convened a group of Colorado-based clinical experts on this issue, and the group affirmed our longstanding position that aligning Medicaid’s coverage for inpatient and residential care is key to providing adequate SUD treatment. CHA strongly supports Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen’s (D-CO) legislation in meeting this goal by proposing to strengthen Medicaid program resources by increasing the federal match to 90 percent for states that opt-in and the creation of a new state Medicaid plan option to improve coverage based on the individual patient’s needs across the continuum of residential, inpatient, and detox SUD treatments in Institutions of Mental Disease,” - The Colorado Hospital Association.
"If we want to create a culture that promotes recovery, we need to allow time to heal. Our brains and bodies are extremely resilient if we give them enough time to develop new pathways. One of the things my team and I loved about the Recovery Act, is it will allow more time for better transitions of care for our patients. People will benefit not only from more time to heal their bodies in a safe environment, but also to establish the necessary support to maintain their recovery after leaving a 24/7 care facility." - Mandy Kaisner, CEO of Solvista Health.
“My name is Tonya Wheeler, and I am a woman living in active and long-term recovery for over 34 years (since May 23, 1990). I am the Executive Director of Advocates for Recovery Colorado. One of the hardest decisions for an individual to make is to ask for help when they are battling active addiction due to the stigma and discrimination against our community. The ability for a person to get access to treatment at the appropriate level of care is imperative. The allowance for Medicaid to pay for these services provides a life saving solution to this problem.” - Tonya Wheeler Executive Director of Advocates for Recovery Colorado.
Numerous local and national organizations have endorsed the Recovery Act including Solvista, Jefferson Center, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Association for Behavioral Healthcare, Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, Young People in Recovery, Colorado Providers Association, Colorado Hospital Association, Mental Health Colorado, Women's Recovery, CU Anschutz, Denver Health, Naloxone Project, Advocates for Recovery, Sobriety House.
Click here for the full text of the bill
The Recovery Act is just the latest in Pettersen’s ongoing efforts to address the drug epidemic in the United States. In the Colorado state legislature, she spent a decade championing policies to improve access to substance use disorder treatment and has been working on the federal level to attack the opioid crisis head-on. Last year Petersen introduced the The Hospitals As Naloxone Distribution Sites (HANDS) Act to require Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE to cover the cost when medical providers physically hand naloxone, the overdose-reversal drug, to patients who are at risk of an overdose, before they are discharged, at zero cost to the patient. Pettersen has also introduced measures to address everything from the import of synthetic opioids like fentanyl, thefinancing of drug cartels, expanding access to treatment, and preventing overdose deaths by ensuring airplanes, law enforcement and hospitals are able to distribute naloxone when necessary.
