To: President Donald Trump, The Georgia State House, The Georgia State Senate, Governor Brian Kemp, The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate
Nicholas Rossini Foundation
Nicholas Rossini Act- providing those suffering with addiction a real chance at Recovery
Why is this important?
My oldest child, Nicholas Rossini, age 22, agreed to go to treatment in July 2014, after we had a family intervention. We spent two weeks of fighting with insurance company to keep him in treatment, but they ultimately denied coverage for further treatment. Nicholas would have stayed a year if he was not forced to leave based upon the insurance denial. He was so tired of living that way!
Immediately preceding his untimely death, he got a job, got engaged and started a family. He was so happy! All seemed well until he got laid off in November. He became depressed, relapsed and died, January 4, 2015 from a heroin overdose. His child is due to be born July 5, 2015. My grandchild will never know his father.
In addition to Nicholas, I have two other children. My son Anthony, 20, is a student at The University of Maine and my daughter Jessica is a sixth grader. Our family has been torn apart and we are all completely heartbroken.
Every day in this country 119 people die from drug overdose, and another 6,748 are treated in emergency rooms. That averages out to an overdose related hospitalization every 13 seconds and an overdose death every 13 minutes. Drug overdose is now the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, outstripping traffic fatalities or gun homicides. And every year it gets worse.
In addition to the terrible human toll, substance abuse costs the U.S. economy over $600 billion annually. Effective treatment can dramatically reduce these costs. According to several conservative estimates, every dollar invested in addiction treatment programs yields a return of between $4 and $7 in reduced drug-related crime, criminal justice costs, and theft. When savings related to healthcare are included, total savings can exceed costs by a ratio of 12 to 1.
Major savings to the individual and to society also stem from fewer interpersonal conflicts; greater workplace productivity; and fewer drug-related accidents, including overdoses and deaths.
My son Nicholas Rossini agreed to receive treatment for his addiction and after only a few short weeks in treatment his insurance company denied coverage for further treatment! Nicholas paid the ultimate price with his life base on this insurance denial.
The Affordable Care Act must be amended to provide for a minimum of Ninety (90) days inpatient drug or alcohol treatment up to a maximum of One Hundred Eighty (180) days per year at a facility certified to provide such care by the Secretary of Health of the state in which it is located.
Research tells us that effective inpatient treatment leads to long term sobriety and fewer relapses. In too many cases, the treatment was insufficient and, therefore, ineffective. The relapse rate for people suffering from addiction who have undergone only short-term detox is between 40 and 90 percent, and often ends with deadly consequences.
I created this Petition in order to request the assistance of The Georgia State House, The Georgia State Senate, Governor Nathan Deal, The United States House of Representatives, The United States Senate, and President Barack Obama to engage in real and immediate action to fight and save the lives of people of our great nation who are battling this disease. This is an epidemic and one of the largest in history.
It is my hope to use this to develop new programs with better long term success rates so that no other mother or family has to endure the heartache and grief that I experience daily since my son died.
For these reasons, I respectfully request that you sponsor and enact the Proposed Amendments to the Affordable Care Act.
Immediately preceding his untimely death, he got a job, got engaged and started a family. He was so happy! All seemed well until he got laid off in November. He became depressed, relapsed and died, January 4, 2015 from a heroin overdose. His child is due to be born July 5, 2015. My grandchild will never know his father.
In addition to Nicholas, I have two other children. My son Anthony, 20, is a student at The University of Maine and my daughter Jessica is a sixth grader. Our family has been torn apart and we are all completely heartbroken.
Every day in this country 119 people die from drug overdose, and another 6,748 are treated in emergency rooms. That averages out to an overdose related hospitalization every 13 seconds and an overdose death every 13 minutes. Drug overdose is now the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, outstripping traffic fatalities or gun homicides. And every year it gets worse.
In addition to the terrible human toll, substance abuse costs the U.S. economy over $600 billion annually. Effective treatment can dramatically reduce these costs. According to several conservative estimates, every dollar invested in addiction treatment programs yields a return of between $4 and $7 in reduced drug-related crime, criminal justice costs, and theft. When savings related to healthcare are included, total savings can exceed costs by a ratio of 12 to 1.
Major savings to the individual and to society also stem from fewer interpersonal conflicts; greater workplace productivity; and fewer drug-related accidents, including overdoses and deaths.
My son Nicholas Rossini agreed to receive treatment for his addiction and after only a few short weeks in treatment his insurance company denied coverage for further treatment! Nicholas paid the ultimate price with his life base on this insurance denial.
The Affordable Care Act must be amended to provide for a minimum of Ninety (90) days inpatient drug or alcohol treatment up to a maximum of One Hundred Eighty (180) days per year at a facility certified to provide such care by the Secretary of Health of the state in which it is located.
Research tells us that effective inpatient treatment leads to long term sobriety and fewer relapses. In too many cases, the treatment was insufficient and, therefore, ineffective. The relapse rate for people suffering from addiction who have undergone only short-term detox is between 40 and 90 percent, and often ends with deadly consequences.
I created this Petition in order to request the assistance of The Georgia State House, The Georgia State Senate, Governor Nathan Deal, The United States House of Representatives, The United States Senate, and President Barack Obama to engage in real and immediate action to fight and save the lives of people of our great nation who are battling this disease. This is an epidemic and one of the largest in history.
It is my hope to use this to develop new programs with better long term success rates so that no other mother or family has to endure the heartache and grief that I experience daily since my son died.
For these reasons, I respectfully request that you sponsor and enact the Proposed Amendments to the Affordable Care Act.