Extra Medicaid Funds Could Help Addicts and Drug Rehab Centers in Illinois

Illinois has asked the federal government if the state can use Medicaid funds to pay for substance abuse and addiction services that aren’t usually covered by the health insurance program. Governor Bruce Rauner and administration are seeking a 5-year waiver from certain Medicaid rules to expand access to preventative care and community-based programs that address and treat substance abuse and addiction. If approved, the waiver could help Medicaid patients who struggle with addiction gain access to treatments at drug rehab centers in Illinois.

If you live in Illinois and are struggling with drug dependency and addiction, call our confidential helpline at 888-414-2380 to learn more about your rehab options. Our treatment specialists will help you find drug rehab centers in Illinois that specialize in treating your addiction.

How Illinois Would Use Medicaid Funding for Addiction

Medicaid Funds

Funds would help reduce addiction relapse rates.

According to Illinois’ proposal, Medicaid funds would be used to help people with substance abuse find and maintain jobs. Inmates nearing release from state penitentiaries would have access to medication-based addiction treatments that could help them achieve lifelong sobriety and reduce the risk for relapse. Medicaid patients who enroll into drug rehab can benefit from short-term inpatient treatment, withdrawal management, and recovery coaching.

From 2007 to 2012, Illinois reduced state funds for addiction treatment by over 50%, based on findings from the Illinois Consortium on Drug Policy at Roosevelt University. Today, Illinois is placing extra emphasis on substance abuse and addiction treatment given the state and nation’s current opioid abuse epidemic.

Bruce Kettelkamp, Christian County Sheriff and former Illinois State Police narcotics officer, says three people in his community have died from heroin overdoses this year alone. Kettelkamp says he hopes that the Medicaid waiver helps free up space in housing communities for those who struggle with addiction. Presently, local inmates who face substance abuse have to stay in the local jail until space becomes available in addiction treatment programs.

Poll Shows Voters In Favor of More Resources for Illinois Rehab Centers

Exploring Medicaid Addiction Treatments

Under the Medicaid waiver, patients who seek addiction treatment can benefit from inpatient care, drug withdrawal management, and coaching at participating treatment facilities and drug rehab centers in Illinois. Residential inpatient facilities are key to helping recovering addicts find healthy daily structure in a world without drugs or alcohol. Withdrawal management helps patients detox in safe, controlled medical environments, while coaching helps patients learn how to cope and survive in the world post-addiction.

Most short-term inpatient programs integrate withdrawal management, coaching, and therapy sessions into their programs. First, patients go through detox and withdrawal, which may or may not involve the use of prescribed medications, per the rehab facility’s practices. Then, patients receive counseling and therapy in individual or group settings that help them identify and treat underlying causes of addiction.

Lastly, patients can benefit from coaching and education sessions that teach how to avoid situations in which drugs and alcohol are present, and how to maintain lifelong sobriety. If the Medicaid waiver is approved, drug rehab centers in Illinois will soon have the extra resources needed to help the state lower its heroin and opioid addiction rates.

Are you struggling with heroin or opioid addiction, and aren’t sure how to overcome your dependency? Understand that you’re not alone, and that the state of Illinois is dedicated to helping you become sober and healthy. Call our helpline at 888-414-2380 to speak with an addiction specialist who can help you find drug rehab centers in Illinois, and get you started along the path to a happier, drug-free life.

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