LAC Coordinates Advocacy Day with NY Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers

On October 21, Legal Action Center, in partnership with the Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers of New York State, coordinated a day of advocacy with the New York Congressional Delegartion in Washington DC. Advocates addressed the need to expand funding for alcohol/drug addiction prevention, treatment and recovery, as well as highlighting the importance of full and equitable coverage for alcohol/drug and mental health services in any version of national healthcare reform.

From left to right: Robert Ross, Henry Bartlett, Kathy Ayers-Lanzillotta, John Coppola, Ron Williams, Congressman Paul Tonko, Paul Samuels, Ira Marion, and Ashley Johnson. Congressman Tonko was presented an award for his work on behalf of alcohol and substance abuse treatment and prevention services in New York.

LAC Deputy Director of National Policy Gabrielle de la Gueronniere, along with Policy Associate Dan Belnap, provided advocates with a detailed briefing on the status of the various versions of healthcare reform legislation, and other federal funding and regulatory issues relevant to the field in order to ensure that New York providers had the latest information to use as they held discussions with congressional members and staff.

As a result of the meetings, all members of the New York Congressional Delegation pledged to work to make sure that patients and providers involved in the alcoholism and substance abuse treatment field not neglected as the debate on national healthcare reform moves forward.

To learn more about the advocacy work of the Legal Action Center, visit our National Policy Advocacy page.