MTN News: Sen. Tester announces new bill to help Montanans who suffer from drug and alcohol abuse

BOZEMAN – Senator Jon Tester is pushing for more addiction counselors in Montana health care centers — and to get them paid through Medicare.

The rates for self-reported drug and alcohol abuse in Montana are higher than the national average.

To combat the high numbers, Tester’s office announced on Monday the Addiction Treatment Access Act, a bill that would allow health care centers to hire more licensed addiction counselors.

The Act would also have the counselor’s services covered by the federal government. As of Monday, three other senators are joining Tester to introduce the bill.