Controversial Bill Would Require 30-Day Addiction Treatment Coverage

State lawmakers are considering a health insurance mandate that would require private health insurers to cover addiction treatment. As part of the federal Medicaid waiver the Baker administration filed this year, some public health insurance carriers would be required to cover up to 30 days of treatment.

But some commercial insurers, along with several business groups, say there's no evidence that 30 days works. They also say the state just implemented a requirement that patients get up to 14-days of addiction treatment coverage. The bill's supporters accuse the insurers of considering costs ahead of patient care.

Lora Pellegrini, president of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, which tweets @mahphealth.

John Keenan, state senator, Norfolk and Plymouth district. He tweets @senjohnfkeenan.