LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- California residents who have been improperly denied substance abuse treatment by their insurance company now have access to a free statewide legal referral service to help them get the coverage they deserve. The program has been launched by the California Treatment Advocacy Foundation (CalTAF), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving access to effective and affordable chemical dependency treatment throughout the state. Despite the fact that most health insurance policies written in California already contain some provisions for substance abuse treatment, the system clearly isnt working as it should, said Phillip Greer, executive director of CalTAF. Many insurers continue to impose unreasonable deductibles and co-payments or impose care guidelines that keep patients from receiving treatment at the level of intensity or for an amount of time that is universally accepted as necessary. Our legal referral service is there for people who have been unfairly denied treatment. Under the program an individual simply calls 1-888-8-CALTAF (1-888-822-5823) for a free consultation. This consultation includes a legal review by a qualified attorney and advice about legal rights. If an individual has been improperly denied treatment, the caller is referred to an attorney with specialized expertise in insurance claims for further consultation. … Continue reading →

Rhys Ifans drew on his knowledge of drug addicts to portray the villain in comic book blockbuster The Amazing Spider-man. In the superhero prequel, the Welsh star takes on the part of Dr. Curt Connors, an amputee scientist who creates a serum using reptile Dna in a bid to gain the lizard-like ability to regrow limbs. Ifans insists he had an unusual influence for his role, taking inspiration from the dependency crystal meth users experience. He tells Britain's The Sun, "He is a very intelligent scientist who genuinely wants to benefit and help millions of humans - limbless humans in his case. Unfortunately, he decides to become his own lab rat and the drug he takes gives him this kind of euphoria - I guess something like crystal meth. That feeling becomes addictive to Connors and that's why he keeps returning to The Lizard. "You know, when guys are on these drugs they feel so brilliant and they want the rest of the world to feel as good as them, even though their behaviour is ultimately destructive to themselves and everyone around them." The actor also reveals he listened to drug-themed rock music to get into character, adding, "When we … Continue reading →

Rhys Ifans drew on his knowledge of drug addicts to portray the villain in comic book blockbuster The Amazing Spider-Man. In the superhero prequel, the Welsh star takes on the part of Dr. Curt Connors, an amputee scientist who creates a serum using reptile DNA in a bid to gain the lizard-like ability to regrow limbs. Ifans insists he had an unusual influence for his role, taking inspiration from the dependency crystal meth users experience. He tells The Sun, "He is a very intelligent scientist who genuinely wants to benefit and help millions of humans - limbless humans in his case. Unfortunately, he decides to become his own lab rat and the drug he takes gives him this kind of euphoria - I guess something like crystal meth. That feeling becomes addictive to Connors and that's why he keeps returning to The Lizard. "You know, when guys are on these drugs they feel so brilliant and they want the rest of the world to feel as good as them, even though their behaviour is ultimately destructive to themselves and everyone around them." The actor also reveals he listened to drug-themed rock music to get into character, adding, "When we were … Continue reading →