WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-MN) today re-introduced his "Harold Hughes, Bill Emerson Substance Abuse Treatment Parity Act" to provide equal access to chemical dependency treatment.

"It’s time to knock down the barriers to chemical dependency treatment and end the discrimination against people with alcoholism and drug addiction," said Ramstad.

"This important legislation puts chemical dependency treatment on par with treatment for other diseases," said Ramstad.

"Assuring access to treatment will not only combat this insidious disease, but will save health dollars in the long run," said Ramstad, who noted that untreated alcoholics and drug addicts, on average, incur health costs 100% higher than people who receive treatment.

"This important legislation will enable 16 million Americans to receive treatment without significantly increasing health care premiums," said Ramstad. "It’s the right thing to do and the cost-effective thing to do."

"Medical experts and law enforcement professionals agree that providing access to chemical dependency treatment is absolutely necessary to combat addiction and crime. Simply dealing with the supply side of the drug problem will never solve it," said Ramstad.

"Congress should pass this treatment parity legislation if it’s truly serious about addressing the epidemic of addiction in America," said Ramstad.