Published: November 1, 1991

In Brief

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arkansas has waived all administrative fees and issued a single plan covering all K-12 students at a cost of $10 each. The project's organizers-- school district officials, the local PTA, and other community activists--will raise the $267,000 needed for the premiums through private donations. The city's treatment providers have pledged to work at or below cost to hold down expenses.

Students will be referred through school nurses or clinicians. Parents must consent to treatment, which can include counseling, supervised treatment, periodic drug screening, and in-patient drug detoxification. The cost of the latter could reach as high as $30,000.

Privately...