In response to “Maine Voices: Federal Medicaid expansion funds would help ease drug crisis” (April 3):

Passage of the bill to accept federal Medicaid expansion funds, L.D. 633, would provide affordable insurance to nearly 70,000 low-income Mainers, opening up access to primary and preventive health care and substance abuse and mental health treatment. For those in the depths of addiction, this access could literally save lives.

Medicaid (MaineCare), private insurance, private pay and charity care are the gates through which addicts can access outpatient programs of 30 days or longer that offer important treatment such as counseling and medication-assisted withdrawal.

Without Maine’s acceptance of the expansion, people suffering from addiction who do not qualify for Medicaid can only hope that charity care is available. However, charity care is limited, places the cost burden on treatment programs and, like short-term detox centers, is associated with high rates of relapse. Cuts in Medicaid and the continued failure to accept federal funds have kept the uninsured from accessing treatment, while simultaneously putting heavy financial strain on programs.

Only 36 percent of those who seek help for heroin or opioid addiction complete treatment, with an 80 to 90 percent relapse rate for those who are not able to complete treatment. Figures like these will not improve until Maine minimizes barriers to treatment for those most in need.

Accepting millions of federal dollars and improving accessibility to affordable health care is the most direct, financially responsible, affordable and effective way to provide mental health and substance abuse treatment to Maine’s uninsured population while supporting the treatment programs on the front lines.

Passage of L.D. 633 is a critical step toward getting a handle on Maine’s opioid addiction epidemic. Please contact your local legislators today to ask them to support L.D. 633.

Kate Kinney

Kennebunk

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