Braxton’s Bill

Clients recovering from Substance Use Disorders need an extended partial hospitalization level of care for longer and need for it to be covered by insurance. The proposed legislative bill is named for a young man who died from an accidental overdose (fentanyl poisoning) whose loving family is unafraid of the stigma and just wants to save others from experiencing the pain they have had to experience.

About Braxton

Braxton played 4 years of college baseball and unfortunately had a severe lower back injury during his Junior year. Unfortunately, he was given oxycodone to alleviate the pain symptoms which began a long journey of opioid dependence to keep the pain in check. His lack of access to programs able to meet his need for extended care led to the loss of his life at 32. Braxton was a kind, loving, hard working young man who had a lot to offer the world had he been given the opportunity for effective treatment. The impact of his death was felt by so many as Braxton never met a stranger and was willing to help anyone that needed his help.

About House Bill 290

HB 290 (Braxton’s Bill), introduced by Kentucky State Representative Josie Raymond (District 41), is directed specifically toward the treatment of use disorders. The bill would require that private insurance companies follow already established parity rules, acknowledging that substance use disorder is an illness and is frequently accompanied by mental health issues. These issues cannot be treated during a short detoxification inpatient hospitalization of the typically allowed 28-day stay. Additionally, they often require a higher level of care than the sometimes provided for intensive outpatient program (IOP) days.

HB 290 would require that insurance companies cover a longer period of this “between inpatient detox and outpatient IOP” level of care called partial hospitalization program (PHP), thereby extending coverage to as much as a full year for some people but no less than six months. It further would moderate the current prior authorization process that currently takes crucial provider time away from direct clinical care to clients.

Why HB 290 is Important

There is ample evidence that twenty-eight days of inpatient hospitalization is not enough to successfully address substance use disorder. Brains, damaged by sometimes years of substance use, can require months of healing before cognitive abilities reach a level required to attain and maintain rehabilitation