Subsidies for Drunk Drivers? Drinks on the House!

by NW Spotlight

Some legislators apparently believe that law-abiding people should have to subsidize criminal behavior

The House Health Care Committee is considering legislation that would require insurers to pay for the court-ordered addiction treatment for drunk drivers — in other words, law-abiding people pay higher health insurance premiums to subsidize drunk drivers’ court-ordered treatments, which often are offered as an alternative to jail time.

Current law already requires health insurance to pay for chemical dependency treatment and for other mental health treatments as part of what’s called “mental health parity.”

But court-ordered treatment for sex offenders and drunk drivers is exempt from the law.  These people don’t need to be “encouraged” to get treatment.  They will get treatment under court order because they’ve broken the law, and having to pay their own costs is part of their punishment.

Some legislators apparently believe that law-abiding people should have to subsidize criminal behavior.

HB2324 is sponsored by Reps. Greenlick (D-Portland), Dembrow (D-Portland) and Barnhart (D-Eugene) and Sen. Bates (D-Medford).

The House Health Care Committee is scheduled to take action on the bill today.