Governor Andrew Cuomo visited Staten Island Wednesday to sign legislation combating heroin and opioid addiction, a growing problem in the borough and across the state. NY1's Amanda Farinacci filed the following report.
Thirty-two-year-old Michael Sapio has been in and out of drug rehab three times for abusing prescription painkillers. Now sober for two months, he says a huge part of his battle with addiction is overcoming his insurance company.
"With HMOs, even private insurance, you know, the social worker got to call up every three days see if the insurance company is going to cover it," he said.
New legislation signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo Wednesday is meant to change that. Among the biggest changes is allowing medical professionals, not insurance companies, to make treatment decisions. That means instead of worrying about insurance coverage, addicts can focus on staying sober.
"Whatever the person needs, they're going to be able to get, and the insurance companies are not gonna be able to stop it, and it's fabulous," said Angela Atanasio of Community Health Action of Staten Island.
The new law creates other changes. It allows a 72-hour stay for emergency overdose treatment, up from 48 hours. It creates 2,500 slots in outpatient treatment programs. And it limits painkiller presciptions to seven days, down from 30. From now on, patients can get refills only after checking in with their doctors.
"I believe this will literally save lives," Cuomo said.
Cuomo signed the legislation on Staten Island, one of three such ceremonies he held Wednesday in the state. The prescription drug and heroin problem is acute here. In 2014, the most recent year data was available, 74 people died of overdoses on the island, up from 64 the year before. The district attorney's office says 52 people already have died of overdoses this year.
"You finally reach that point when you say 'I need help,' and you reach out for the help and youre told you have to wait. That moment passes just like that," said state Senator Diane Savino of Staten Island. "And that's why it's so critically important that we expand access to treatment."
A key part of the legislation calls for the addition of nearly 300 new treatment beds statewide. There is no word yet on how many of those beds will be made available to residents in the borough.