On June 23, the Colorado Society of Addiction Medicine (COSAM) sent a letter to Colorado Governor Jared Polis urging him to sign SB20-007, which would require that most insurers provide coverage for the treatment of substance use disorder in accordance with The ASAM Criteria for placement, medical necessity, and utilization management determinations, among other provisions.

The letter stressed the evidence-based nature of The ASAM Criteria, noting that it is the most widely used and comprehensive set of evidence-based guidelines for placement, continued stay, and transfer or discharge of patients with addiction and co-occurring conditions. Furthermore, the letter emphasized that when insurers use their own criteria, they can sometimes fail to cover appropriate treatment. Therefore, it is imperative that Governor Polis sign SB20-007 to ensure that insurers appropriately cover addiction treatment.

Read the letter here. 

Read the bill here.