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Expanded offerings may also include physician, hospital and
ancillary services (labs, diagnostics, etc.
The Houston community education event will be followed by a buprenorphine
training session for interested physicians on March 25.

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DALLAS , The Consumer Health Alliance ("CHA"), a
national, non-profit trade association of the discount healthcare industry,
today announced that its new Consumer's Guide to Choosing the Best Card and
Company is now available to the public via its website at:
http://www.consumerhealthalliance.S .

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Its mission is to educate consumers and
regulators about the benefits of discount programs to promote fair and ethical
business practices and to work with state legislators and regulators. The forum will offer information about the science of
buprenorphine and the federal requirements for establishing this new office-
based treatment.m.

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"Our Guide contains important information to enable consumers to make
sound, informed decisions," says Barbara Flood, CHA President.
In the current U.

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"
Discount healthcare programs are not insurance and are not intended to
replace health insurance . Another recent study, SAMHSA's
"Drug Abuse Warning Network 2003: Area Profiles of Drug-Related Mortality,"
found that of the 287 drug misuse-related deaths in Houston and the
surrounding area in 2003, some 152 involved misuse of opiates.

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We are part of the solution to our nation's healthcare
crisis, and more people need to understand how we operate and how we help
consumers be healthier . Its member companies serve more than 21
million consumers nationwide.

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We conduct
advocacy efforts throughout the United States and our member companies adhere
to a strict Code of Conduct that promotes integrity, fairness and
accountability."

About the Consumer Health Alliance: CHA was founded in 2002, and is a
national, non-profit trade association representing discount healthcare
programs that are not insurance.D.

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Members
enroll in programs to benefit from discounts from healthcare providers' retail
rates and understand that they are responsible for paying providers directly
at the time of service. Buprenorphine Considered Major Breakthrough in Addiction to Narcotic
Painkillers, Heroin

WASHINGTON, The Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration (SAMHSA) will come to Houston on March 9 to inform
physicians and the public about buprenorphine, a new office-based medical
treatment for addiction to prescription pain relievers and other opiate drugs,
such as heroin.

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For
more information, visit CHA's website at:
http://www.

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Consumer Health Alliance Announces New Edition of Consumer's Guide to Discount Health Cards

WHO: Speakers for the event will include:
* Nicholas Reuter, M .gov

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Education Initiative on Substance Abuse Coming to Houston

P., Clinical Director Texas, Division of
Substance Abuse, Department of State Health Services
* Jane C.

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' One of our top priorities is to educate consumers,
legislators and regulators about the discount healthcare industry.

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CHA wants to provide consumers relevant information
and key facts about choosing and comparing discount health programs, while the
effort to increase insurance coverage continues.org .

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SAMHSA has targeted selected metropolitan areas impacted by drug abuse or
opiate dependence problems in a continued effort to get more physicians,
pharmacists and treatment providers familiar with this new medication-assisted
treatment option.D.

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, Medical Director, InSight , Assistant
Professor, Internal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine,
Assistant Professor, Psychiatry + Behavioral Sciences,
University of Texas Health Science Center
* Person in Recovery

WHEN: March 9, 2006
9:30-11:30 a.

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However, they do offer consumers a means of
accessing healthcare services and products at affordable rates. Discount healthcare programs are primarily used for
dental, chiropractic, vision , hearing, pharmaceutical and other services and
products.consumerhealthalliance.
According to nationwide data from SAMHSA's 2004 National Survey on Drug
Use and Health (NSDUH), an estimated 4.H.

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org . The Consumer's
Guide highlights real differences between discount healthcare programs and
presents information in a simple, easy-to-understand format. healthcare system, "access to healthcare " usually
means insurance status.7 percent of the population misused
prescription pain relievers in the past year., Director, Center for Excellence in
Epidemiology, Gulf Coast Addiction Technology Transfer Center,
Research Professor, Center for Social Work Research, University
of Texas
* Katherine McQueen, M.

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SAMHSA is sponsoring
physician -training opportunities in collaboration with four organizations: the
American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), the American Academy of
Osteopathic Addiction Medicine (AAOAM), the American Academy of Addiction
Psychiatry (AAAP) and the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

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Says Flood , "Our motto is 'Protecting consumer access to discount
healthcare programs.

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Says Flood, "We
have incorporated items from many state consumer advisories regarding how to
select a legitimate program and tips on shopping for a program that fits
consumers needs. SAMHSA is working in partnership with the Texas Department
of State Health Services, Substance Abuse Division, Program Services Branch to
convene its "New Paths to Recovery" education forum., Senior Public Health Advisor, Division
of Pharmacologic Therapies, Center for Substance Abuse
Treatment, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, DHHS
* John Keppler , M. Maxwell, Ph.

WHERE: Council on Alcohol and Drugs, Houston
303 Jackson Hill Street, Houston

For information on attending, please call our toll-free line at
877 -521-5671 or e-mail at csatconference@samhsa.