Olympia -- New research by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) shows that providing more Medicaid and General Assistance (GA) funds for chemical dependency treatment is saving taxpayers between $149 and $287 per month in medical costs for every adult who receives treatment.

Approved by legislators in 2005 and funded by assumed cost savings in medical and long term care, medical savings per treated patient are exceeding the original budget assumptions:

• For adult Medicaid Disabled patients, medical savings are estimated to be $287 per treated patient per month, compared to $199 in the original appropriation.
• For adult Medicaid Disabled patients, nursing home savings are estimated to be $137 per treated patient per month, compared to $58 in the original appropriation.
• Actual medical savings for GA-Unemployable patients are estimated to be $149 per treated patient per month, compared to $117 in the original appropriation.

Other savings in criminal justice and child welfare costs have not yet been estimated. The full report is available at http://www.dshs.wa.gov/pdf/hrsa/dasa/TxExpUpdate.pdf.

"State and local agencies have worked hard to provide quality treatment to more people with this disease" said Doug Allen, Director of the DSHS Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse. "Now the research proves that investing in treatment not only creates healthier families and safer communities, it saves tax payers thousands of dollars in medical costs."

Prior to 2005, 74 percent of Washington's youth, and 69 percent of adults, were denied treatment because of limited state funding and long waiting lists that forced many potential patients to give up on treatment. With the new funding, the study calculated that 4,211 more people were able to receive prompt treatment in the first two years.

The state-funded treatment is available to Medicaid-eligible residents of the state, including the elderly, disabled, those who receive Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), and low-income teens.

"Now that more people can get the treatment they need, it's crucial that their family members, friends, employers and health care providers are aware of the warning signs, and help them begin treatment," added Allen.

The public can find help on how to intervene at www.intervenenow.org.

DSHS-DASA offers a toll-free number to call for free information and referrals to treatment agencies: the Alcohol/Drug 24-Hour Helpline can be reached at 800-562-1240, or www.adhl.org. The Helpline also provides a "Teenline" at 1-877-345-teen, and free drug education materials.

Job opportunities:  Additional state funding for chemical dependency treatment has also meant more counselor jobs and a shortage of qualified applicants. To explore job openings and find out how to become a Chemical Dependency Professional, visit the Chemical Dependency Professional job site at http://cdpcertification.org/

For additional information and background, please contact: Deb Schnellman, Communications, DASA, HRSA, DSHS 360-725-3763

Jim Stevenson, Communications, HRSA, DSHS, 360-725-1915 (pager: 360-971-4067)