Adequate Treatment and Costs for Eating Disorders
You are invited to a
CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING
Adequate Treatment and Costs for Eating Disorders
The
Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action invites you to
this informative policy briefing on Wednesday, April 14, 3:30-5:00 p.m. in
the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 628.
The problem:
An
estimated 8 million Americans suffer from eating disorders, which can lead
to major medical complications and death. In fact, anorexia has the
highest mortality rate of all mental disorders. Research shows that eating
disorders can be successfully overcome with adequate and appropriate
treatment. Unfortunately, access to adequate care is limited.
This
briefing will offer different perspectives on eating disorders treatment
and costs, from a researcher, an insurance company representative, and a
bereaved mother and activist, and a treatment consumer. Each speaker will
focus on the problems associated with paying for long-term treatment, and
the risks of premature treatment termination.
Speakers will address hospitalization trends before and since managed
care, and innovations in model treatment programs.
Speakers include:
B. Timothy Walsh, MD,
William & Joy Ruane Professor of Pediatric Psychopharmacology at the
College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University and Director of
the Eating Disorders Research Unit at New York State Psychiatric
Institute.
Mary Ann Stump,
Vice President, Strategic Innovation and the State of Minnesota Health
Plan at Blue Cross Blue Shield of
Minnesota.
Kitty Westin, MA, LP,
founder of the Anna Westin Foundation and mother of Anna Westin, who lost
her life after being denied treatment for anorexia.
Gail Schoenbach,
an activist and person in recovery, will talk about her experiences in
treatment.
Jeanine Cogan, PhD,
Policy Director of the Eating Disorders Coalition
Our
goal is to offer eating disorder policy information to Congressional
staffers who focus on health policy. If you plan to attend, please RSVP
to linsel@email.smith.edu.
We thank the U.S. Senate sponsors for this
briefing,
|
 Senator
Norm Coleman
(R-Minnesota)
|
|
 Senator
Mark Dayton
(D-Minnesota)
|
