Legislation would ensure Medicaid coverage for alcohol use disorder treatment

LANSING — State Rep. Abdullah Hammoud  (D-Dearborn) introduced House Bill 5408 last week to ensure state Medicaid coverage of services and support for patients diagnosed with alcohol use disorder (AUD). In 2018, state-licensed facilities reported over 27,800 admissions for alcohol-related substance abuse cases in Michigan.

“For patients struggling to overcome alcohol use disorder, receiving the support and resources they need is vital to their long-term health and wellness, as well as the public health of our state,” said Hammoud. “Decades of inaccessibility and skyrocketing costs have served as barriers significantly preventing better health outcomes.”

This bipartisan legislation would create greater consistency of reimbursements for AUD treatment in the state of Michigan for patients in need, allowing for improved recovery success and preserving public health in Michigan. HB 5408 was referred to the House Committee on Health Policy for further consideration.