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Opioid Addiction Bill Proposed in Delaware

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DOVER, Del. (AP) - State officials are proposing revisions to Delaware's insurance code to ensure that people struggling with opioid addiction get the treatment they need.

Attorney General Matt Denn on Wednesday also called for the creation of a new oversight committee to help identify and target medical providers who are over prescribing painkillers.

Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro and Public Health Director Dr. Karyl Rattay expressed their support for the legislation, as did parents who have lost children to drug overdoses.

One bill requires insurers to provide coverage for medically necessary inpatient treatment for substance abuse, without requiring prescreening, referrals or prior authorization.

Another would allow the attorney general's office to use consumer protection funds to provide legal assistance to people challenging claim denials.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.