GREAT NEWS FOR PEOPLE WITH EATING DISORDERS WITHOUT INSURANCE! COVERAGE IS AVAILABLE IF YOU QUALIFY
If you do not have insurance because of a pre-existing illness - you can now apply for insurance that would cover eating disorder treatment. READ MORE!
The EDC is collaborating with the Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight at the Department of Health and Human Services on the successful implementation of the health care reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). We want to connect people suffering from eating disorders who meet the eligibility requirements to a new insurance.
One provision of the ACA that is now in effect and has promise for people with eating disorders is the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP). The PCIP was created to make health insurance available to those who have been denied insurance due to a pre-existing condition. The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan:
* Offers coverage of mental health services including eating disorders as a required benefit.
* Will cover a broad range of health benefits, including primary and specialty care, hospital care, in and out-patient services, and residential treatment.
* Doesn’t charge you a higher premium just because of your medical condition.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
To be eligible for the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP):
1. You must be a citizen or national of the United States or lawfully present in the United States.
2. You must have been uninsured for at least the last six months.
3. You must have had a problem getting insurance due to a pre-existing condition.
To be approved, you must submit a complete application with all required documentation, including proof of citizenship and a copy of a health insurance denial notification dated within the last six months.
Some states are running their own PCIP while the others are run by the federal government. ALL PCIP’s are required through regulation to cover eating disorders as part of the mental health benefit. However, the state run programs have the option to put a lifetime cap on mental health services for PCIP enrollees. This will vary state by state. In addition, the scope of coverage for the mental health benefit varies by state.
Under the federal-run program, there is not an option to cap the mental health benefit. The following states are the federally run programs:
Alabama | Arizona | D.C. | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Indiana | Kentucky | Louisiana | Massachusetts | Minnesota | Mississippi | North Dakota | Nebraska | Nevada | South Carolina | Tennessee | Texas | Vermont | Virginia | West Virginia | Wyoming
For more information, rates, and application for the federal-run programs go to the Health and Human Services website at www.pcip.gov.
To apply for a state-run program go to: www.healthcare.gov and click on your state. At that point, state-specific contact information and coverage information (including rates) will appear.
Jeanine Cogan, Ph.D. Policy Director
Friday, November 19, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Exciting Announcement re: Office of the First Lady & Eating Disorders
Below is a very exciting email announcement that EDC Policy Director, Jeanine Cogan, sent to the organizations who supported the letter to the Office of the First Lady addressing Eating Disorders. ~
Dear Friends,
Thank you again for supporting the EDC's work with Congress to influence Michelle Obama's campaign on childhood obesity. The Congressional letter urging the "Let's Move" campaign to expand its message to also address eating disorders was signed by 35 Members of Congress and had the support of 30 organizations. Most bills in Congress do not even have 35 cosponsors nor do they have so much active support by organizations, so this is an accomplishment.
And the letter had impact. We are happy to inform you that Congressman Alcee Hastings' office - who initiated this letter - received a response from the Office of the First Lady that the "Let's Move!" campaign would be adding eating disorder information in selected places on the "Let's Move!" web site, and that they would expand their message to include information about eating disorders as appropriate.
The web changes are currently in process (though not up yet). The EDC will continue to work with Congressman Hastings' office and hope to further influence this process.
As a field we have a long way to go to ensure that eating disorders are taken seriously, addressed appropriately, and understood. Thank you for the work you and your organization does to reach these goals. Efforts like this letter make a difference. Every success moves us forward! Thank you for endorsing it!
See a copy of the delivered letter below.
In gratitude,
Jeanine Cogan, Ph.D.
Policy Director
Eating Disorders Coalition
www.eatingdisorderscoalition.org
202-352-3208
July 21, 2010
The First Lady of the United States
The White House
441 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear First Lady Michelle Obama,
Thank you for championing the health and welfare of our nation’s children through the Let’s Move Campaign. Let’s Move has brought historic attention to the importance of addressing one the most serious public health concerns of today. Although we applaud that you mentioned eating disorders during a recent Let’s Move event, we believe that broadening Let’s Move’s focus to include information about eating disorders would enhance the campaign’s mission to improve the mental and physical health of all children.
We understand that obesity and eating disorders have distinct health impacts, and believe that the prevalence of these disorders indicates the need for comprehensive and well-coordinated interventions that support healthier habits and environments. Like obesity, unhealthy weight loss measures, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating and eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS) have increased significantly over the past few decades. In fact, more than 11 million men, women and children suffer from an eating disorder in the United States.
In a speech that publicly introduced the Let’s Move Campaign, you stated that unhealthy diets and habits can negatively influence physical, emotional and educational development and well-being. Eating disorders are no exception. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that undernourishment impacts a student’s ability to excel academically, and suicide, anxiety and depression are more common in people with eating disorders. Eating disorders also have the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses, and can result in long-term health issues including heart and kidney failure, cognitive impairment, muscle atrophy and sudden death.
Like obesity, eating disorders afflict children of different ages, genders, economic backgrounds, and ethnicities. At least 30-40 percent of junior high students have reported dieting, over half of high-school girls have reported dieting, and 25 percent of bulimia and anorexia cases are men. What’s more, student athletes can be especially vulnerable to eating disorders because some adopt unhealthy dietary restrictions and weight loss methods to achieve or maintain a certain weight for competition. Many obese individuals resort to unhealthy weight loss tactics and may develop eating disorders in an attempt to achieve a desired weight or body image.
Strong environmental, cultural, social factors have contributed to the high rates of obesity and eating disorders in the United States. Stigma, blame and misinformation often accompany these conditions. Coordinated efforts among educators, elected officials, parents, community leaders and young people are crucial to executing sustainable solutions to these public health problems. We believe that the Let’s Move Campaign’s mission is compatible with messages and interventions that are designed to address eating disorders.
Educators could incorporate information about unhealthy dieting when providing information about healthy food choices. Speeches and parental toolkits could include information about risks, signs and support networks for eating disorders. Let’s Move programs could be designed to teach children to respect body size diversity, promote self esteem, and support body satisfaction. And, the Let’s Move Web site could include a link to the Office of Women’s Health Web site which has comprehensive and evidence based information on eating disorders.
The unprecedented leadership in the battle against obesity through the Let’s Move Campaign shows your commitment to creatively and aggressively improving the health of children, families and communities. We hope that you will take our suggestions into consideration so that the Let’s Move Campaign can take a more holistic approach to addressing the full spectrum of behaviors that are compromising the health of America’s children.
Sincerely,
Alcee L. Hastings and 34 Members of Congress as listed below:
Signees (34): Reprentatives Arcuri, Baldwin, Bishop (GA), Capps, Christensen, Conyers, Courtney, Deutch, Djou, Edwards (MD), Frank, Franks, Ellison, Grijalva, Hodes, Holden, Kennedy, Kildee, Kilpatrick, Langevin, Loebsack, Meek (FL), Maloney, Myrick, Napolitano, Norton, Pascrell, Price (NC), Roe (TN), Shea-Porter, Schwartz, Towns, Wasserman Schultz, and Watson
This letter is supported by the following organizations (30): Alliance for Eating Disorders, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Academy for Eating Disorders, A Chance to Heal, American Dance Therapy Association, American Group Psychotherapy Association, Anxiety Disorders Association of America, Avalon Hills Residential Eating Disorder Programs, Binge Eating Disorders Association, Cedar Associates, Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt, Clinical Social Work Association, Eating Disorders Coalition, EDReferral.com, The Emily Program, F.E.A.S.T., Gail R. Schoenbach FREED Foundation, Gurze Books, Maudsley Parents, Mental Health America, MentorCONNECT, Monte Nido Treatment Center, Multi-Services Eating Disorder Association, National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Eating Disorders, National Eating Disorders Association, Pennsylvania Education Network for Eating Disorders, Renfrew Center, School Social Work Association of America, The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness, and The Emily Program Foundation
Dear Friends,
Thank you again for supporting the EDC's work with Congress to influence Michelle Obama's campaign on childhood obesity. The Congressional letter urging the "Let's Move" campaign to expand its message to also address eating disorders was signed by 35 Members of Congress and had the support of 30 organizations. Most bills in Congress do not even have 35 cosponsors nor do they have so much active support by organizations, so this is an accomplishment.
And the letter had impact. We are happy to inform you that Congressman Alcee Hastings' office - who initiated this letter - received a response from the Office of the First Lady that the "Let's Move!" campaign would be adding eating disorder information in selected places on the "Let's Move!" web site, and that they would expand their message to include information about eating disorders as appropriate.
The web changes are currently in process (though not up yet). The EDC will continue to work with Congressman Hastings' office and hope to further influence this process.
As a field we have a long way to go to ensure that eating disorders are taken seriously, addressed appropriately, and understood. Thank you for the work you and your organization does to reach these goals. Efforts like this letter make a difference. Every success moves us forward! Thank you for endorsing it!
See a copy of the delivered letter below.
In gratitude,
Jeanine Cogan, Ph.D.
Policy Director
Eating Disorders Coalition
www.eatingdisorderscoalition.org
202-352-3208
July 21, 2010
The First Lady of the United States
The White House
441 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear First Lady Michelle Obama,
Thank you for championing the health and welfare of our nation’s children through the Let’s Move Campaign. Let’s Move has brought historic attention to the importance of addressing one the most serious public health concerns of today. Although we applaud that you mentioned eating disorders during a recent Let’s Move event, we believe that broadening Let’s Move’s focus to include information about eating disorders would enhance the campaign’s mission to improve the mental and physical health of all children.
We understand that obesity and eating disorders have distinct health impacts, and believe that the prevalence of these disorders indicates the need for comprehensive and well-coordinated interventions that support healthier habits and environments. Like obesity, unhealthy weight loss measures, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating and eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS) have increased significantly over the past few decades. In fact, more than 11 million men, women and children suffer from an eating disorder in the United States.
In a speech that publicly introduced the Let’s Move Campaign, you stated that unhealthy diets and habits can negatively influence physical, emotional and educational development and well-being. Eating disorders are no exception. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that undernourishment impacts a student’s ability to excel academically, and suicide, anxiety and depression are more common in people with eating disorders. Eating disorders also have the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses, and can result in long-term health issues including heart and kidney failure, cognitive impairment, muscle atrophy and sudden death.
Like obesity, eating disorders afflict children of different ages, genders, economic backgrounds, and ethnicities. At least 30-40 percent of junior high students have reported dieting, over half of high-school girls have reported dieting, and 25 percent of bulimia and anorexia cases are men. What’s more, student athletes can be especially vulnerable to eating disorders because some adopt unhealthy dietary restrictions and weight loss methods to achieve or maintain a certain weight for competition. Many obese individuals resort to unhealthy weight loss tactics and may develop eating disorders in an attempt to achieve a desired weight or body image.
Strong environmental, cultural, social factors have contributed to the high rates of obesity and eating disorders in the United States. Stigma, blame and misinformation often accompany these conditions. Coordinated efforts among educators, elected officials, parents, community leaders and young people are crucial to executing sustainable solutions to these public health problems. We believe that the Let’s Move Campaign’s mission is compatible with messages and interventions that are designed to address eating disorders.
Educators could incorporate information about unhealthy dieting when providing information about healthy food choices. Speeches and parental toolkits could include information about risks, signs and support networks for eating disorders. Let’s Move programs could be designed to teach children to respect body size diversity, promote self esteem, and support body satisfaction. And, the Let’s Move Web site could include a link to the Office of Women’s Health Web site which has comprehensive and evidence based information on eating disorders.
The unprecedented leadership in the battle against obesity through the Let’s Move Campaign shows your commitment to creatively and aggressively improving the health of children, families and communities. We hope that you will take our suggestions into consideration so that the Let’s Move Campaign can take a more holistic approach to addressing the full spectrum of behaviors that are compromising the health of America’s children.
Sincerely,
Alcee L. Hastings and 34 Members of Congress as listed below:
Signees (34): Reprentatives Arcuri, Baldwin, Bishop (GA), Capps, Christensen, Conyers, Courtney, Deutch, Djou, Edwards (MD), Frank, Franks, Ellison, Grijalva, Hodes, Holden, Kennedy, Kildee, Kilpatrick, Langevin, Loebsack, Meek (FL), Maloney, Myrick, Napolitano, Norton, Pascrell, Price (NC), Roe (TN), Shea-Porter, Schwartz, Towns, Wasserman Schultz, and Watson
This letter is supported by the following organizations (30): Alliance for Eating Disorders, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Academy for Eating Disorders, A Chance to Heal, American Dance Therapy Association, American Group Psychotherapy Association, Anxiety Disorders Association of America, Avalon Hills Residential Eating Disorder Programs, Binge Eating Disorders Association, Cedar Associates, Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt, Clinical Social Work Association, Eating Disorders Coalition, EDReferral.com, The Emily Program, F.E.A.S.T., Gail R. Schoenbach FREED Foundation, Gurze Books, Maudsley Parents, Mental Health America, MentorCONNECT, Monte Nido Treatment Center, Multi-Services Eating Disorder Association, National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Eating Disorders, National Eating Disorders Association, Pennsylvania Education Network for Eating Disorders, Renfrew Center, School Social Work Association of America, The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness, and The Emily Program Foundation
Highlights from September's Congressional Briefing
"I've been to every single EDC Congressional Briefing, and this was the best one yet!" ~ That is one of the many compliments we received for September's Congressional Briefing, "The Federal Response to Eliminate Eating Disorders Act: How Congress Will Save Lives By Passing this Bill" hosted by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA). The room was packed with standing room only. EDC Advocates in the audience reported that the Congressional staffers presented were "moved" and "took vigorous notes" throughout the briefing. This is impressive because Congress was set to depart the Hill that very day --yet these staffers made time to attend the EDC's briefing to learn more about the FREED Act.
The first speaker of the afternoon was Jillian Croll, PhD, RD, MPH, Director, Communications, Outreach, and Research of The Emily Program. Her talk was titled, "Expanding our Understanding of Eating Disorders through Research". Dr. Croll highlighted the need for expanded research funding and opportunities. "Clearly, there is much more to know about eating disorders. Finding solutions to these challenges is imperative. Some of the things we don’t know about eating disorders are severely impacting, and killing, people.” Dr. Croll described the personal impact that the FREED Act's research section will have on families and individuals affected by eating disorders when she told the story of "Julie". "Julie was a kind and gentle person; a therapist who worked with young people; with a gift for connecting with people. She was closely connected to her mom, dad, sister and brother-in-law. Julie died on
The second speaker was Wendy Oliver-Pyatt, MD, FAED, CED, Founder and Executive Director of Oliver-Pyatt Centers. Dr. Oliver-Pyatt 's talk was entitled "How Obesity Prevention Can Trigger Eating Disorders: Why We Need to Address Both in Tandem". The central message of her speech was, “It is important that special care be taken in the construction and implementation of “obesity prevention” programs to minimize any harm that might result.” Dr. Oliver-Pyatt discussed the widely-accepted recommendations made by the
Chevese Turner, Founder and CEO of the Binge Eating Disorder Association, spoke next. Her talk titled, “Bringing Binge Eating Disorder into the Light: A Personal Perspective” held a captive audience as she candidly shared her struggles with BED –Binge Eating Disorder. Ms. Tuner highlighted the connection between BED and Obesity, “Binge eating disorder represents the greatest number of individuals with an eating disorder. In fact, 1 in every 35
I was the last speaker at the briefing. I spoke about my role as the Education and Prevention Coordinator for the Gail R. Schoenbach F.R.E.E.D. Foundation. In this capacity, I serve as a patient advocate. To illustrate the need for the patient advocacy piece of the FREED Act, I shared three stories of young woman who lost their lives due to lack of proper treatment and/or coverage of their eating disorder. I asked the audience to consider how the outcome for these young women might have been different had they had a Patient Advocate. “I want you to consider what you think might have been different if Nicole (Boice) had had a Patient Advocate. I firmly believe that Nicole would not have suffered as she did. I believe that the doctors would NOT have dismissed Nicole’s chest pain. I believe that Nicole’s insurance company would have authorized the life-saving treatment that Nicole was begging for. And as a result of having a better trained and fully funded Patient Advocate, I believe that Nicole, my dear friend, would not have died in her sleep just one night before she was supposed to leave to be here on the Hill, lobbying by my side for the FREED Act last April 27, 2010. I believe that Nicole’s family would not have had bury their beloved Nikki on April 30, 2010 –just three days after she was supposed to be alive and well on the Hill like all of you (at our April Lobby Day)”.
Jeanine Cogan, Ph.D., Policy Director for the EDC, wrapped up the briefing by inviting questions from both Staffers and audience members, and summarizing why the FREED Act needs to pass sooner rather than later, so that more lives are not senselessly lost. The briefing proved an informative and powerful ending to the EDC's September Lobby Day.
To read the speeches from the briefing, please visit the EDC homepage and click on the link.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Another Success for the EDC and the Field:
Representatives Kennedy and Baldwin Write Letter to HHS Supporting Eating Disorders Treatment
A letter was sent by Representatives Kennedy and Baldwin urging Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of HHS, to require coverage for eating disorders treatment as part of the health care reform act that passed into law.
People with mental illness more broadly and eating disorders specifically will benefit from expanded insurance access and treatment coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PL111-148) signed into law by President Obama in March 2010. The primary insurance overhaul measure includes benefits for people with mental illness who have lacked insurance coverage or whose insurance omitted or sharply limited coverage for mental illness treatment. Provisions require
- insurers to offer and renew insurance coverage for all who apply (no more denials for people with pre-existing illnesses);
- prohibit health insurers from canceling coverage;
- specify that premium rates in the individual and small-group market can vary only on the basis of tobacco use, age, family composition, and state-defined geographic rating areas;
- allow adult children to remain on their parents' health policies until they turn 27 if they do not have access to a policy on their own.
- HHS to identify high risk pools and to provide temporary coverage for people who have been denied insurance for preexisting conditions until the ban on insurance denials begins in four years.
A key component of the legislation requires new state health insurance exchanges that will serve as a marketplace to assist uninsured individuals and small employers in purchasing private health plans. All plans in the exchanges must offer the same minimum benefits package, which must include mental health services and substance use treatment. The law did not require any specific mental illnesses be covered. Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of HHS, is responsible for the implementation of this law.
The EDC has been working with Congress to make sure HHS includes eating disorders as part of the minimum benefits package. Representatives Kennedy and Baldwin's letter to is one of the concrete outcomes of these efforts.
Click below to view the letter:http://www.eatingdisorderscoalition.org/documents/SebeliusEDltr.pdf
Jeanine Cogan, Ph.D., Policy Director
Eating Disorders Coalition
www.eatingdisorderscoalition.org
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Visions of a new frontier | Rhode Island news | projo.com | The Providence Journal
Visions of a new frontier | Rhode Island news | projo.com | The Providence Journal
Visions of a new frontier
01:00 AM EDT on Sunday, October 3, 2010
Congressman Patrick Kennedy likens his cause to his uncle’s ‘moon-shot’ speech and says the brain is “the new frontier.”
The Providence Journal / Connie Grosch
WASHINGTON — Four weeks from Tuesday will be a milestone of sorts for the country.
It will be the first federal Election Day since 1944 — when Lt. John F. Kennedy was in his final weeks of Navy service — that has not featured a member of the famed political family on a ballot or seated in constitutional office.
For retiring Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy, it will be the first time in years he won’t have to worry about being reelected. The Rhode Island Democrat will also be focused on another milestone just a few days beyond. On Nov. 7, Patrick and Caroline Kennedy will mark the 50th anniversary of her father’s final campaign event, a stump speech at the steps of Providence City Hall on the night before he was elected president.
“Here’s the circle for me,” said Patrick Kennedy. “It’s like 40 years of public life that I’m getting out of this year. The last stop that JFK came to was in my district, and the synergy for me is being able to honor his victory.
“What drove a lot of Americans into service to our country — the Peace Corps, the military, public service of all kinds — is what drove me into service, the legacy of asking, as he put it in his inaugural, what I could do.”
What Patrick Kennedy wants to do for the country in private life is expand his signature issue of mental health to encompass “the signature wound,” as he calls it, of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Kennedy said the next “New Frontier” is medical — the full panoply of neurological maladies from battle-inflicted traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorder to illnesses such as depression, addiction, dementia, and more.
To tackle them he envisions an initiative that he likens to President Kennedy’s space program.
The 43-year-old Kennedy can speak of 40 years in public life because he was a toddler when his father ran his third race for the Senate. Edward M. Kennedy all but inherited his brother Jack’s old Senate seat, first winning it in 1962 upon crossing the constitutional threshold of his 30th birthday.
Patrick Kennedy had just turned 21 — old enough to vote — when he picked up the family mantle to run for the state House of Representatives. That memorable campaign brought better-known Kennedys, including cousin Caroline, to stump across Mount Pleasant for the self-effacing Providence College undergraduate. It was 22 years ago this fall.
Kennedys had been in this line of work for more than a century, starting with Patrick’s great-grandfather and namesake, a successful East Boston liquor importer, state legislator and ward boss. His maternal great-grandfather, John F. Fitzgerald, was the first Irish-Catholic mayor of Boston. His uncle, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, was a young war hero when he began the modern dynasty with the first of his three successful campaigns for the U.S. House in 1948.
In 1952, Jack Kennedy won the Senate seat that would remain in Kennedy hands for 56 years, if you count the brief custody of a family friend from 1961, when JFK became president, until Ted could run in 1962. Two years later, Robert F. Kennedy was elected to the Senate from New York. In 1986, Robert’s son, Joseph P. Kennedy II, won the first of his six U.S. House terms, in the redistricted version of his uncle Jack’s old seat, spanning parts of Boston and Cambridge.
Cousin Patrick, born after President Kennedy’s assassination and less than a year before Robert Kennedy’s, took up the family trade two years later.
“It was the family ethic,” Kennedy recalled last week, including the tug of his late uncle’s exhortation, “ask not what your country can do for you.”
After three terms in the General Assembly, he won an open congressional seat in 1994 to become one of a handful of Democrats elected against the historic wave that put the GOP in charge of the House for the first time in half a century. Kennedy’s race against Republican Dr. Kevin Vigilante was one of the most entertaining congressional races in modern Rhode Island memory. It was also Kennedy’s toughest race on the way to establishing a family record that even his father, who died in August 2009, could not match: 11 victories in election campaigns, three for the General Assembly seat, eight in the 1st Congressional District.
Winning elections, of course, has not proved to be Kennedy’s toughest challenge.
From his earliest days in office, he recalled last week, “I came in here trying to hide and to keep the challenge I was facing every day down to a low murmur, to try to fight the shame of suffering from neurological disorders.” That is the term he has come to use for the bipolar illness, alcoholism and drug abuse that have plagued him through his adult life.
Kennedy chose to go public with his mental illness during the late 1990s when Tipper Gore addressed a Rhode Island audience on the issue. His struggles with drugs and drinking hit the front page with a highly publicized auto accident in spring 1996.
Since then, in what he says is “kind of like a serendipitous turn,” Kennedy has become one of the nation’s best-known faces of recovery from mental illness and addiction, telling his story to help lessen the stigma for others and — in his principal achievement as a legislator — sponsoring a 2008 law to put mental illness on an equal insurance footing with other ailments.
For much of the succeeding two years, a time that encompassed his father’s death and his decision last winter not to seek reelection, Kennedy has moved toward what he hints will be the cause of his life after politics. It is nothing less ambitious than breaking down what he depicts as the artificial wall between mental and physical illness.
Kennedy puts “our American heroes,” the war veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, at the center of that campaign, which he expects to touch on during the John F. Kennedy memorial in Providence next month.
Kennedy makes the case that medical science is rapidly unlocking the secrets that will bridge the worlds of traditional medicine and mental health — mainly through the kind of neuroscientific research that pinpoints the brain chemistry behind addiction, depression and other ailments viewed not so long ago as character flaws.
Politically, Kennedy makes the case that the stigma attached to mental illness is a civil-rights issue akin to racial prejudice.
And as a practical matter, Kennedy portrays the plight of the brain-injured soldier as a tragedy of these times, but also an opportunity for rallying the public to a great nonpartisan cause. “One brain, one mind” is among the slogans that he uses to preface his argument that a crash research program — initially aimed at treating veterans afflicted with traumatic brain injuries and posttraumatic stress disorder — can eventually help millions.
The congressman envisions a time when research yields genetic markers as keys to the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, addiction, multiple sclerosis, dementia, depression — a host of illnesses no longer segregated as “medical” or “mental.”
Kennedy plans to write a book that uses his personal story to draw attention to the promise of treatment and research. And he foresees many ways to echo his late uncle’s clarion call to service — at congressional hearings, at next month’s memorial on Kennedy Plaza and beyond.
The brain “is the last frontier,” said Kennedy. “It’s the new frontier, but we’re not going to outer space. We’re coming to inner space” to make neurological breakthroughs comparable to the engineering breakthroughs of President Kennedy’s space program, he declared.
“We’re going to need that same ethic that JFK put forward in his ‘moon-shot’ speech; that we’re going to do this before the decade is out. We’re going to get this done because we’re Americans. We’re in it to win it.”
Thursday, September 23, 2010
One year anniversary of the passage of health care reform
Today is the one year anniversary of the passage of health care reform. See the below article from NAMI that hightlights changes that go into effect today.
First Wave of Insurance Reforms To Go Into Effect
Sept. 23, 2010
Today, the first set of consumer protections for health insurance included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (federal health care reform) will go into effect. These protections include:
* Prohibiting denials or limits on coverage or benefits for children under age 19 who have a pre-existing condition. This will benefit children living with mental illness who are covered by their parent's plan.
* Prohibiting lifetime dollar limits on most health insurance benefits, including mental health benefits, in all policies issued or renewed after Sept. 23, 2010. This will help protect enrollees, particularly those who experience multiple hospitalizations or have chronic and intensive mental health care needs.
* Extending dependent coverage for adult children up to age 26 in all individual and group health insurance policies. This will make it possible for young adults--at a time when many first experience mental illness--to be covered under a parent's plan.
* Bans on cancelling ("rescinding") insurance coverage due to honest mistakes or omissions in insurance applications. Insurance companies will have to prove fraud to justify cancelling insurance policies.
* New rights to appeal adverse insurance decisions, such as denials of care. For most plans, plan holders must be provided a copy of the rationale for any denial of coverage and, importantly, there will now be an independent external appeals process in all states and for most plans.
Additionally, many plans will now offer certain preventive services, dependent on age, with no cost-sharing or deductible. For example, individuals will now be covered for blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol tests.
To find out more about these and other insurance reforms going into effect today, visitwww.healthcare.gov<http://capwiz.com/nami/utr/1/BUKWNFKIZG/EKUZNFMRLS/5824027916> .
The federal health reform law contains many other provisions that will make an impact on health and mental health care. These changes will be implemented over the course of the next few years. For a list and timetable of these changes, go to healthreform.kff.org <http://capwiz.com/nami/utr/1/BUKWNFKIZG/JGEUNFMRLT/5824027916>
A series of federal rules have been issued on topics such as preventive services in health care reform, procedures for appealing denials of services and other important topics. To see NAMI's comments on these rules and for more information about how health care reform will impact individuals living with mental illness, visit NAMI's special website on health care reform,www.nami.org/healthcare<http://capwiz.com/nami/utr/1/BUKWNFKIZG/GPNCNFMRLU/5824027916> .
First Wave of Insurance Reforms To Go Into Effect
Sept. 23, 2010
Today, the first set of consumer protections for health insurance included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (federal health care reform) will go into effect. These protections include:
* Prohibiting denials or limits on coverage or benefits for children under age 19 who have a pre-existing condition. This will benefit children living with mental illness who are covered by their parent's plan.
* Prohibiting lifetime dollar limits on most health insurance benefits, including mental health benefits, in all policies issued or renewed after Sept. 23, 2010. This will help protect enrollees, particularly those who experience multiple hospitalizations or have chronic and intensive mental health care needs.
* Extending dependent coverage for adult children up to age 26 in all individual and group health insurance policies. This will make it possible for young adults--at a time when many first experience mental illness--to be covered under a parent's plan.
* Bans on cancelling ("rescinding") insurance coverage due to honest mistakes or omissions in insurance applications. Insurance companies will have to prove fraud to justify cancelling insurance policies.
* New rights to appeal adverse insurance decisions, such as denials of care. For most plans, plan holders must be provided a copy of the rationale for any denial of coverage and, importantly, there will now be an independent external appeals process in all states and for most plans.
Additionally, many plans will now offer certain preventive services, dependent on age, with no cost-sharing or deductible. For example, individuals will now be covered for blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol tests.
To find out more about these and other insurance reforms going into effect today, visitwww.healthcare.gov<http://capwiz.com/nami/utr/1/BUKWNFKIZG/EKUZNFMRLS/5824027916> .
The federal health reform law contains many other provisions that will make an impact on health and mental health care. These changes will be implemented over the course of the next few years. For a list and timetable of these changes, go to healthreform.kff.org <http://capwiz.com/nami/utr/1/BUKWNFKIZG/JGEUNFMRLT/5824027916>
A series of federal rules have been issued on topics such as preventive services in health care reform, procedures for appealing denials of services and other important topics. To see NAMI's comments on these rules and for more information about how health care reform will impact individuals living with mental illness, visit NAMI's special website on health care reform,www.nami.org/healthcare<http://capwiz.com/nami/utr/1/BUKWNFKIZG/GPNCNFMRLU/5824027916> .
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Day on Capitol Hill,
September 29th & 30th
Register Now!
| Get active! Capitol Hill is the place for eating disorder advocacy this Fall! The Eating Disorders Coalition is hosting its second Lobby Day and Congressional Briefing of 2010. |
| EDC Members with Senator Tom Harkin introducing the FREED Act in the Senate, April, 2010 | |
Join us as we advocate for the FREED Act, which is the first eating disorders legislation to comprehensively promote research, treatment, education, and prevention programs. Also - come say thank you and good-bye to our champion in the House, Congressman Patrick Kennedy, at our reception on Wednesday evening. | |
Those who register after 9/22 will be added to an already existing lobby team and we can not ensure that you will be meeting with your state representatives
Monday, September 13, 2010
The EDC needs Volunteers in DC
The EDC needs Volunteers in Washington DC for September
We are looking for volunteers in the DC area willing to help us spread the word about our upcoming EDC Lobby Day. We have 2 projects we need your help with:
1. Visit Congressional Offices with our invitation to the Congressional Briefing - We need volunteers from the DC area to help us hand deliver an invitation about our upcoming reception honoring Congressman Kennedy and our briefing about the FREED Act to Congressional offices.
2. Spread the word to all the DC area college students - We are looking for students attending the major DC area colleges and universities to spread the word about Lobby Day through hanging posters, emailing their classmates and contacting on campus organizations that would be interested attending Lobby Day. This would require a little more time about 10-15 hours over the next couple of weeks and this would be an independent project (or perhaps with a fellow volunteer at your school).
If you are interested in helping us out and making a difference in this Fall's Lobby Day efforts please email us right away at: manager@eatingdisorderscoalition.org .
We hope to hear from you!
Friday, September 3, 2010
What Exactly IS Lobby Day? And Why Should I Come?
I can't tell you how many times I've gotten a message like this one in my inbox: "okay, this is really going to show my ignorance, and I am slightly embarrassed to even ask, but what exactly is Lobby Day and what happens? sorry if this is the possibly the most dumb question you have ever received:/"
My first response to that question is always, "It's not a dumb question, as no question is ever dumb. We learn by asking questions." My second response is, "No need to be embarrassed. Once upon a time I didn't know what Lobby Day was either!" And then I expound a bit on what Lobby Day is/means to me.
Because this 'Lobby Day season' I've seemed to receive more than the usual amount of emails asking this very question, I thought I'd write a blog about it. Of course, I haven't yet found a way to totally put it into words what Lobby Day means to be, but I do hope this helps you better understand what Lobby Day is all about.
~From the Hill, Kathleen
February 26, 2003 --my first "EDC Lobby Day". It was a snowy, gray and cold day in DC. I was in a city I was totally unfamiliar with, but not even my lack of direction or understanding of DC (ie: NEVER wear heels to walk around the Hill!), nor the bitter chill of the wind whipping across my cheek, could change the way I felt that day: filled to the brim with nervous excitement as I embarked upon the enigmatic adventure called: "EDC Lobby Day".
Even though I really had no idea what to expect from my 1st EDC Lobby Day (and to be frank, I was also totally nervous that I wouldn't know what to say in the meetings, and I was afraid that if I did open my mouth to speak, I'd for certain say the wrong thing) I knew deep within that what we 30+ advocates were doing that snowy DC morning was indeed going to have an impact and indeed we were going to make a significant difference in the lives of those affected by Eating Disorders.
It was also on that cold and snowy February morning in 2003, that for the first time in nearly two decades I felt like I shouldn't feel ashamed and embarrassed for having suffered with anorexia and bulimia. For the first time in nearly 20 years of my life I felt like I could make a difference in the way I was treated by society, medical professionals, friends and family, for suffering with a disease, not a "life-style choice". And for the first time in nearly 20 years of my life, I felt like I might finally have the chance to get back something I had long ago lost. Something that until that day in DC I hadn't even noticed was missing all those years while I suffered from "feeling fat". On February 26, 2003 I dared to dream that I could once again find a voice, my voice, and I dared to dream that Hope Exists and that hope is one of the most powerful expressions of being alive.
"What's hope got to do with it?"
Nearly a year before my first Lobby Day, in June of 2002, I had spoken at a Congressional Briefing that the Eating Disorders Coalition sponsored. The Briefing was entitled, "A Matter of Life or Death: A Congressional Briefing on Eating Disorders and Access to Care." That June I arrived in DC feeling very different than I did in February, 2003. In June of 2002, I felt like my entire life since the age of 12 (when my eating disorder took over my life) had been a waste of everyone's time. I felt devoid of happiness, of meaning, of significance, of worthiness to be alive, and I truly felt like I had no reasons left to live. I felt this way for many reasons, but mostly because after so many years of suffering without receiving proper and adequate treatment, I felt like I was alone in my suffering, and I felt like my eating disorder, and all the hell and suffering it brought to seemingly everyone who came in contact with me, was, of course, "my fault". Most significantly, I felt 100% devoid of hope. Because my eating disorders had taken such a toll on my emotional well-being over the years, I came to the very unhealthy conclusion that the suffering I had endured was meant to come to an end the day I came to speak at the Briefing in June, 2002. My 'plan' was to never make it home from the Briefing. My mal-nourished mind and my underfed soul thought it was best if I quietly faded away, succumbing to the disease that for so long I had held out hope would reward me with happiness for the thinness I sustained*. I thought everyone who knew me or who had once known me would be relieved once I was gone.
Much like my first Lobby Day in February of 2003, in June of 2002 I had no idea what to really expect when I set foot on Capitol Hill; the environment and the goings on were foreign and enigmatic to me. I certainly had no idea what to expect from this organization called The Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy and Action, but I knew what not to expect: I knew not to expect help or hope from them. (Or at least that was what my eating disordered-self, after so many years of being told, "Snap out of it and eat already!", had decided I should not expect.) Little did I know that on that day in June of 2002 my eating disordered-self would be totally taken aback by the organization I knew relatively nothing about, and my life was about to change in ways I never ever imagined.
The Congressional Briefing that the Eating Disorders Coalition (EDC) hosted in June, 2002, was designed to educate Members of Congress and their staffers about the denial of insurance coverage those with eating disorders so oftentimes face when seeking treatment. I had often tried to seek out treatment during the course of my 16 year-long battle with anorexia and bulimia but I was always told, "Insurance doesn't cover this." In fact, shortly before going to Capitol Hill to speak at the Briefing, I had been searching online for residential treatment options at centers like Remuda and Renfrew, but neither place would be covered by my insurance. I was told repeatedly by my insurance company that "Eating Disorders are not a covered service." Being told that only reinforced my disordered thinking that it was "my fault" for being sick, "my fault" that I couldn't simply 'get over it!', and "my fault" for 'failing' at recovery. I honestly thought that after I finished my speech at the Briefing that the people in the audience would come up to me and say, "When are you going to realize you need to just get over it already!?"
In fact, quite the opposite happened.
What happened after I finished speaking was that I found something I'd been missing for nearly 20 years of my life; something that I didn't even know I was missing.
That something was: understanding.
The other speakers and the people in the audience didn't blame me. They didn't shame me. They actually told me they were "sorry" that I had suffered and that it "wasn't fair" that I hadn't been able to get treatment.
I really couldn't fully take it all in at the time --but somewhere deep within I knew their words were significant. I knew that their words, unlike the words that had been constantly repeated to me by my insurance company, were supportive and heartfelt.
I had the sense that the people who spoke at the Briefing, the people who organized the Briefing, and the people in the audience all believed that I deserved treatment. And because of that, that day,June 13, 2002 , was the first time in nearly 20 years that I didn't feel like the world would be better off without me.
The Eating Disorders Coalition, by providing an avenue for "the voice of advocacy" that day (including Kitty Westin who shared the story of her daughter Anna's death as a direct result of anorexia), gave me the first ounce of belief that I might be worthy of surviving the disease that I had only hours before planned to allow steal my life. In hearing Anna's story, I heard the reality of my suffering, and I heard the pain of a mother left behind to deal with the grief that comes when a young life is taken from this world prematurely due to the hell of eating disorders. In hearing Kitty's and Anna's stories I realized that I didn't want to follow-thru with my intended plan. It was the first time that day that I would realize, "I do not want to die from this."
In the audience that day were two parents who had come to the Briefing because they believed that eating disorders needed to be recognized for the deadly disorders that they are, and that those suffering DESERVE treatment. The parents were Ron and Sally George. In September of 2000, their precious daughter Leslie Ann died as a direct result of a hospital emergency room denying Leslie proper life-saving service. The hospital doctors discriminated against Leslie after she disclosed to them that she suffered with bulimia. The doctors actually told Leslie to go home and let her food come out the way it had gone in. Shortly thereafter, Leslie's stomach ruptured and the hospital spent hours (and nearly $140,000) trying to save Leslie's life. When Mr. and Mrs. George looked into my eyes that day and shared Leslie's story with me --it was the first time I realized that bulimia is a seriously deadly disorder and I was scared I was going to die. And it was the second time that day that I realized, "I don't want to die from this."
The Eating Disorders Coalition provided a network of advocacy, compassion, strength, researchers, treatment professionals, family and friends affected by eating disorders --it was like this 'dream world' I'd always longed for when I was sick: people working together to help those suffering from a disease that was killing me and millions of others. Without the EDC providing this avenue for advocacy, I can honestly say that I do not think I would be alive today.
I walked away from the Briefing not quite sure what had just 'happened' to me. But I knew that what had happened was not to be taken lightly. And I knew that I felt a twinge of something in my heart that I hadn't felt in nearly 20 years.
Shortly after the Briefing, while walking around DC's beautiful Botanical Garden, I began to place what I was feeling in my heart. The feeling was that of...hope.
Putting it altogether: hope and advocacy in action!
Shortly after the Briefing I started receiving email updates from the Friends and Family Action Council, the advocacy arm of the EDC. The email updates mentioned this thing called "EDC Lobby Day". I had no idea what "Lobby Day" meant in relation to me. I thought that drug companies, oil companies, or people like Michael J. Fox were "lobbyists" and therefore, the EDC Lobby Day was not really for me. But as I mentioned, in February, 2003, I took a chance and ventured into DC to see what this "EDC Lobby Day" was all about.
There was a group of about 30 people at the training. I felt sure they were all smarter and savvier than me. I felt sure they knew more about Lobbying and legislation than me and that I was not meant to be there since I was 'only' someone who suffered with an eating disorder, I wasn't a treatment professional or doing research in eating disorders for my Ph.D.. There was a part of me who wanted to sneak out of the building where "Lobby Day Training" was being held, trust me. But I stayed...and am I ever glad that I did.
Jeanine Cogan, EDC Policy Director, began our training with a few ice breakers. She asked us questions like, "What do you think of when you hear the term "lobbyist" and "politician"?" The answers people voiced, as I'm sure you can imagine, were made up of some less than flattering descriptors. But then there were some answers called out by people in the audience who had been to previous "EDC Lobby Days". Their answers were more positive and hopeful including: "advocate", "interested in the issues", "compassionate", "relationship building", "makes a difference". Hmm...that's an interesting twist, I remember thinking. Jeanine went on to share with us what it means to be an advocate lobbying on the Hill for a cause. She shared with us that our stories, our personal stories, do indeed make a difference. I remember thinking, "yea, not my story though, she means stories from treatment professionals, right?" Nope. Jeanine meant what she said, "There is power in your personal story and that is what the Members (of Congress) and their staffers need to hear. They need to hear how your life was impacted by lack of treatment, by inadequate treatment..." When Jeanine was telling us why our stories mattered, that is when I first realized that for so long I had been missing my voice. I had lost my voice for nearly 20 years to a disease that silenced my needs. OnFebruary 26, 2003 , I realized that, while I wasn't sure how I would do it, I would reclaim my voice! I realized that I wanted to use my voice to make a difference in my life, and eventually, after I recovered, perhaps use my voice to better the lives of others. And because of the avenue for advocacy the EDC provided via Lobby Day, I began to believe that indeed: my voice mattered.
Unfortunately, my motivated feelings lasted only a fleeting moment because then Jeanine moved on to talking about Legislation.
My new found voice suddenly grew weak in my own head and a feeble and familiar voice said, "You can't do this. You don't know enough."
Feelings of worry flashed over me. I started furiously taking notes on every single detail of the Legislation Jeanine was telling us about. I felt like I couldn't write fast enough. And again, I felt like exiting the training because I felt I wasn't 'qualified' to be speaking at the meetings later that day. Well thank goodness Jeanine was aware that I was (and many others I'd come to find out, were) feeling pretty petrified that I wouldn't remember all the nitty gritty details of the legislation. She put us all at ease by saying, "You don't need to, and you likely won't, remember all the details of what I just said, that's why we're going to practice now what it will be like in your meetings today."
HUGE sigh of relief!
So, sitting around our round table, 8 of us looked at each other with eyes wide open as if to say, "You go first!" After a few nervous laughs, we gathered our strength and began practicing our 'meetings'. We had one person act as the Staffer and the rest of us acted as "EDC Advocates". First we introduced ourselves to the Staffer. Then we took a few minutes to share with the 'Staffer' why were there on the Hill that day. After everyone had had a turn to share, the 'Staffer' thanked us for our time and encouraged us to follow-up with their office.
Pretty good practice round we thought --but let's do it again for good measure. So we practiced again, shortening our 'reasons why we're on the Hill today' to about three minutes each, which gave everyone a chance to share in the short time allotted for our meeting. The more we practiced, the more at ease I felt, the less scared I felt, and the more I felt like my story, my voice, was indeed worthy enough to be there.
Jeanine wrapped up training and we were given packets of information and a list of offices we'd be meeting with that day. Raring to go, we set off on our mission: Educate Members of Congress and their Staffers about Eating Disorders: They are deadly, but there is Hope!
Meeting after meeting our 'Lobby Day Team' improved the delivery of our message. We got more comfortable sharing our stories in the time we had allowed, and we got more comfortable tying our stories to the legislation at hand (back in 2003 we didn't have the FREED Act, but there was other legislation like Mental Health Parity that we were advocating for).
At the end of the day, though tired and feet a bit worn, I was beaming. Indeed we had all made an impact and indeed we had all begun to make a significant difference in the lives of those affected by Eating Disorders! I not only had hope, but I now believed in the power of hope.
We've come a long way since 2003. For the purpose of this blog, the achievements of the EDC's advocacy efforts and the accomplishments of the Eating Disorders and Mental Health community are far too many to list. But they are many. A few I want to highlight include: successfully helping to advocate for the passage of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, and perhaps most importantly: the creation of our 'dream bill', the FREED Act (HR 1193), the Federal Response to Eliminate Eating Disorders --the first ever comprehensive bill in the history of Congress! The House version of the FREED Act was introduced by Patrick Kennedy in February, 2009 and the Senate version of the FREED Act was introduced by Senator Harkin the night before our last Lobby Day -- April 26, 2010!!
It is hard now for me to go back and remember the darkness that once consumed me as a result of my eating disorders. It is not hard to do because the pain from that darkness is too great to revisit. No, it is hard to remember the darkness because after I met the EDC, and since I fully recovered, I have remained full of the conviction behind the "enigmatic power of Hope" that was instilled in me at my first Lobby Day back in February, 2003. Perhaps most importantly: I have found that where there is hope, there is no darkness.
When people ask me if I really believe that the FREED Act will pass, I get goose bumps as I share with them my most sincere and gleeful answer of, "ABSOLUTELY, 100%! I BELIEVE!" I really do believe that miracles, like the FREED Act becoming law, do happen. My recovery, and now my life, is proof that miracles DO indeed happen if you: work hard, believe, and...never ever give up on Hope!
My first response to that question is always, "It's not a dumb question, as no question is ever dumb. We learn by asking questions." My second response is, "No need to be embarrassed. Once upon a time I didn't know what Lobby Day was either!" And then I expound a bit on what Lobby Day is/means to me.
Because this 'Lobby Day season' I've seemed to receive more than the usual amount of emails asking this very question, I thought I'd write a blog about it. Of course, I haven't yet found a way to totally put it into words what Lobby Day means to be, but I do hope this helps you better understand what Lobby Day is all about.
~From the Hill, Kathleen
Even though I really had no idea what to expect from my 1st EDC Lobby Day (and to be frank, I was also totally nervous that I wouldn't know what to say in the meetings, and I was afraid that if I did open my mouth to speak, I'd for certain say the wrong thing) I knew deep within that what we 30+ advocates were doing that snowy DC morning was indeed going to have an impact and indeed we were going to make a significant difference in the lives of those affected by Eating Disorders.
It was also on that cold and snowy February morning in 2003, that for the first time in nearly two decades I felt like I shouldn't feel ashamed and embarrassed for having suffered with anorexia and bulimia. For the first time in nearly 20 years of my life I felt like I could make a difference in the way I was treated by society, medical professionals, friends and family, for suffering with a disease, not a "life-style choice". And for the first time in nearly 20 years of my life, I felt like I might finally have the chance to get back something I had long ago lost. Something that until that day in DC I hadn't even noticed was missing all those years while I suffered from "feeling fat". On February 26, 2003 I dared to dream that I could once again find a voice, my voice, and I dared to dream that Hope Exists and that hope is one of the most powerful expressions of being alive.
"What's hope got to do with it?"
Nearly a year before my first Lobby Day, in June of 2002, I had spoken at a Congressional Briefing that the Eating Disorders Coalition sponsored. The Briefing was entitled, "A Matter of Life or Death: A Congressional Briefing on Eating Disorders and Access to Care." That June I arrived in DC feeling very different than I did in February, 2003. In June of 2002, I felt like my entire life since the age of 12 (when my eating disorder took over my life) had been a waste of everyone's time. I felt devoid of happiness, of meaning, of significance, of worthiness to be alive, and I truly felt like I had no reasons left to live. I felt this way for many reasons, but mostly because after so many years of suffering without receiving proper and adequate treatment, I felt like I was alone in my suffering, and I felt like my eating disorder, and all the hell and suffering it brought to seemingly everyone who came in contact with me, was, of course, "my fault". Most significantly, I felt 100% devoid of hope. Because my eating disorders had taken such a toll on my emotional well-being over the years, I came to the very unhealthy conclusion that the suffering I had endured was meant to come to an end the day I came to speak at the Briefing in June, 2002. My 'plan' was to never make it home from the Briefing. My mal-nourished mind and my underfed soul thought it was best if I quietly faded away, succumbing to the disease that for so long I had held out hope would reward me with happiness for the thinness I sustained*. I thought everyone who knew me or who had once known me would be relieved once I was gone.
Much like my first Lobby Day in February of 2003, in June of 2002 I had no idea what to really expect when I set foot on Capitol Hill; the environment and the goings on were foreign and enigmatic to me. I certainly had no idea what to expect from this organization called The Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy and Action, but I knew what not to expect: I knew not to expect help or hope from them. (Or at least that was what my eating disordered-self, after so many years of being told, "Snap out of it and eat already!", had decided I should not expect.) Little did I know that on that day in June of 2002 my eating disordered-self would be totally taken aback by the organization I knew relatively nothing about, and my life was about to change in ways I never ever imagined.
The Congressional Briefing that the Eating Disorders Coalition (EDC) hosted in June, 2002, was designed to educate Members of Congress and their staffers about the denial of insurance coverage those with eating disorders so oftentimes face when seeking treatment. I had often tried to seek out treatment during the course of my 16 year-long battle with anorexia and bulimia but I was always told, "Insurance doesn't cover this." In fact, shortly before going to Capitol Hill to speak at the Briefing, I had been searching online for residential treatment options at centers like Remuda and Renfrew, but neither place would be covered by my insurance. I was told repeatedly by my insurance company that "Eating Disorders are not a covered service." Being told that only reinforced my disordered thinking that it was "my fault" for being sick, "my fault" that I couldn't simply 'get over it!', and "my fault" for 'failing' at recovery. I honestly thought that after I finished my speech at the Briefing that the people in the audience would come up to me and say, "When are you going to realize you need to just get over it already!?"
In fact, quite the opposite happened.
What happened after I finished speaking was that I found something I'd been missing for nearly 20 years of my life; something that I didn't even know I was missing.
That something was: understanding.
The other speakers and the people in the audience didn't blame me. They didn't shame me. They actually told me they were "sorry" that I had suffered and that it "wasn't fair" that I hadn't been able to get treatment.
I really couldn't fully take it all in at the time --but somewhere deep within I knew their words were significant. I knew that their words, unlike the words that had been constantly repeated to me by my insurance company, were supportive and heartfelt.
I had the sense that the people who spoke at the Briefing, the people who organized the Briefing, and the people in the audience all believed that I deserved treatment. And because of that, that day,
The Eating Disorders Coalition, by providing an avenue for "the voice of advocacy" that day (including Kitty Westin who shared the story of her daughter Anna's death as a direct result of anorexia), gave me the first ounce of belief that I might be worthy of surviving the disease that I had only hours before planned to allow steal my life. In hearing Anna's story, I heard the reality of my suffering, and I heard the pain of a mother left behind to deal with the grief that comes when a young life is taken from this world prematurely due to the hell of eating disorders. In hearing Kitty's and Anna's stories I realized that I didn't want to follow-thru with my intended plan. It was the first time that day that I would realize, "I do not want to die from this."
In the audience that day were two parents who had come to the Briefing because they believed that eating disorders needed to be recognized for the deadly disorders that they are, and that those suffering DESERVE treatment. The parents were Ron and Sally George. In September of 2000, their precious daughter Leslie Ann died as a direct result of a hospital emergency room denying Leslie proper life-saving service. The hospital doctors discriminated against Leslie after she disclosed to them that she suffered with bulimia. The doctors actually told Leslie to go home and let her food come out the way it had gone in. Shortly thereafter, Leslie's stomach ruptured and the hospital spent hours (and nearly $140,000) trying to save Leslie's life. When Mr. and Mrs. George looked into my eyes that day and shared Leslie's story with me --it was the first time I realized that bulimia is a seriously deadly disorder and I was scared I was going to die. And it was the second time that day that I realized, "I don't want to die from this."
The Eating Disorders Coalition provided a network of advocacy, compassion, strength, researchers, treatment professionals, family and friends affected by eating disorders --it was like this 'dream world' I'd always longed for when I was sick: people working together to help those suffering from a disease that was killing me and millions of others. Without the EDC providing this avenue for advocacy, I can honestly say that I do not think I would be alive today.
I walked away from the Briefing not quite sure what had just 'happened' to me. But I knew that what had happened was not to be taken lightly. And I knew that I felt a twinge of something in my heart that I hadn't felt in nearly 20 years.
Shortly after the Briefing, while walking around DC's beautiful Botanical Garden, I began to place what I was feeling in my heart. The feeling was that of...hope.
Putting it altogether: hope and advocacy in action!
Shortly after the Briefing I started receiving email updates from the Friends and Family Action Council, the advocacy arm of the EDC. The email updates mentioned this thing called "EDC Lobby Day". I had no idea what "Lobby Day" meant in relation to me. I thought that drug companies, oil companies, or people like Michael J. Fox were "lobbyists" and therefore, the EDC Lobby Day was not really for me. But as I mentioned, in February, 2003, I took a chance and ventured into DC to see what this "EDC Lobby Day" was all about.
There was a group of about 30 people at the training. I felt sure they were all smarter and savvier than me. I felt sure they knew more about Lobbying and legislation than me and that I was not meant to be there since I was 'only' someone who suffered with an eating disorder, I wasn't a treatment professional or doing research in eating disorders for my Ph.D.. There was a part of me who wanted to sneak out of the building where "Lobby Day Training" was being held, trust me. But I stayed...and am I ever glad that I did.
Jeanine Cogan, EDC Policy Director, began our training with a few ice breakers. She asked us questions like, "What do you think of when you hear the term "lobbyist" and "politician"?" The answers people voiced, as I'm sure you can imagine, were made up of some less than flattering descriptors. But then there were some answers called out by people in the audience who had been to previous "EDC Lobby Days". Their answers were more positive and hopeful including: "advocate", "interested in the issues", "compassionate", "relationship building", "makes a difference". Hmm...that's an interesting twist, I remember thinking. Jeanine went on to share with us what it means to be an advocate lobbying on the Hill for a cause. She shared with us that our stories, our personal stories, do indeed make a difference. I remember thinking, "yea, not my story though, she means stories from treatment professionals, right?" Nope. Jeanine meant what she said, "There is power in your personal story and that is what the Members (of Congress) and their staffers need to hear. They need to hear how your life was impacted by lack of treatment, by inadequate treatment..." When Jeanine was telling us why our stories mattered, that is when I first realized that for so long I had been missing my voice. I had lost my voice for nearly 20 years to a disease that silenced my needs. On
Unfortunately, my motivated feelings lasted only a fleeting moment because then Jeanine moved on to talking about Legislation.
My new found voice suddenly grew weak in my own head and a feeble and familiar voice said, "You can't do this. You don't know enough."
Feelings of worry flashed over me. I started furiously taking notes on every single detail of the Legislation Jeanine was telling us about. I felt like I couldn't write fast enough. And again, I felt like exiting the training because I felt I wasn't 'qualified' to be speaking at the meetings later that day. Well thank goodness Jeanine was aware that I was (and many others I'd come to find out, were) feeling pretty petrified that I wouldn't remember all the nitty gritty details of the legislation. She put us all at ease by saying, "You don't need to, and you likely won't, remember all the details of what I just said, that's why we're going to practice now what it will be like in your meetings today."
HUGE sigh of relief!
So, sitting around our round table, 8 of us looked at each other with eyes wide open as if to say, "You go first!" After a few nervous laughs, we gathered our strength and began practicing our 'meetings'. We had one person act as the Staffer and the rest of us acted as "EDC Advocates". First we introduced ourselves to the Staffer. Then we took a few minutes to share with the 'Staffer' why were there on the Hill that day. After everyone had had a turn to share, the 'Staffer' thanked us for our time and encouraged us to follow-up with their office.
Pretty good practice round we thought --but let's do it again for good measure. So we practiced again, shortening our 'reasons why we're on the Hill today' to about three minutes each, which gave everyone a chance to share in the short time allotted for our meeting. The more we practiced, the more at ease I felt, the less scared I felt, and the more I felt like my story, my voice, was indeed worthy enough to be there.
Jeanine wrapped up training and we were given packets of information and a list of offices we'd be meeting with that day. Raring to go, we set off on our mission: Educate Members of Congress and their Staffers about Eating Disorders: They are deadly, but there is Hope!
Meeting after meeting our 'Lobby Day Team' improved the delivery of our message. We got more comfortable sharing our stories in the time we had allowed, and we got more comfortable tying our stories to the legislation at hand (back in 2003 we didn't have the FREED Act, but there was other legislation like Mental Health Parity that we were advocating for).
At the end of the day, though tired and feet a bit worn, I was beaming. Indeed we had all made an impact and indeed we had all begun to make a significant difference in the lives of those affected by Eating Disorders! I not only had hope, but I now believed in the power of hope.
We've come a long way since 2003. For the purpose of this blog, the achievements of the EDC's advocacy efforts and the accomplishments of the Eating Disorders and Mental Health community are far too many to list. But they are many. A few I want to highlight include: successfully helping to advocate for the passage of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, and perhaps most importantly: the creation of our 'dream bill', the FREED Act (HR 1193), the Federal Response to Eliminate Eating Disorders --the first ever comprehensive bill in the history of Congress! The House version of the FREED Act was introduced by Patrick Kennedy in February, 2009 and the Senate version of the FREED Act was introduced by Senator Harkin the night before our last Lobby Day -- April 26, 2010!!
It is hard now for me to go back and remember the darkness that once consumed me as a result of my eating disorders. It is not hard to do because the pain from that darkness is too great to revisit. No, it is hard to remember the darkness because after I met the EDC, and since I fully recovered, I have remained full of the conviction behind the "enigmatic power of Hope" that was instilled in me at my first Lobby Day back in February, 2003. Perhaps most importantly: I have found that where there is hope, there is no darkness.
When people ask me if I really believe that the FREED Act will pass, I get goose bumps as I share with them my most sincere and gleeful answer of, "ABSOLUTELY, 100%! I BELIEVE!" I really do believe that miracles, like the FREED Act becoming law, do happen. My recovery, and now my life, is proof that miracles DO indeed happen if you: work hard, believe, and...never ever give up on Hope!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Understanding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PL111-148)
Understanding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PL111-148)
People with mental illness are expected to benefit from expanded insurance access and treatment coverage under the landmark $938 billion health care overhaul signed into law by President Obama in March, 2010.
The primary insurance overhaul measure includes benefits for people with mental illness who have lacked insurance coverage or whose insurance omitted or sharply limited coverage for mental illness treatment.
The legislation requires new state health insurance exchanges that will serve as a marketplace to assist uninsured individuals and small employers in purchasing private health plans. All plans in the exchanges must offer the same minimum benefits package, which must include mental health services and substance use treatment. The bill did not define that any specific mental illness be required to be covered as that language was not included in the bill. The EDC has been working with key Members of Congress in both the House and Senate to ensure that eating disorders will be part of the minimum benefits package - meaning that insurance companies as part of the exchange will have to cover eating disorder treatment.
Other provisions require insurers to offer and renew insurance coverage for all who apply; prohibit health insurers from cancelling coverage; specify that premium rates in the individual and small-group market can vary on only the basis of tobacco use, age, family composition, and state-defined geographic rating areas; and allow adult children to remain on their parents' health policies until they turn 27 if they do not have access to a policy on their own.
Because the legislation phases in various insurance provisions over the next decade, the legislation includes a more immediate benefit that may assist people with serious mental illness: new high-risk pools. The legislation requires the Department of Health and Human Services to identify such risk pools by July and to provide temporary coverage for such people until the ban on insurance denials for preexisting conditions begins in four years.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
FAC Fundraising Challenge
Dear FAC Members,
As we gear up for our September Lobby Day we would like to issue to a challenge to all our loyal and dedicated FAC members. We are looking for 50 of our FAC Members to accept the FAC challenge of raising $250 from now until September 30th.
With your help we can raise much needed funds to help spread awareness of eating disorders and help gather more support for the FREED Act in both the House and Senate. Any amount you can bring in will help us tremendously and we can't do it without you!
Getting started is easy, all you need to do is click on this link to accept the challenge and get started: http://www.firstgiving.com/40861 . Here you will be able to setup your own fundraising page with your personal statement. Then send this page to all your friends, post on your facebook, myspace and tweet your fundraising goals, progress and achievements. Remember; every dollar helps!
Thank you so much for you help over the years! We know you will rise to this occasion and that many will reach this goal. If you have any questions, please email us at Manager@Eatingdisorderscoalition.org .
Best Wishes,
Eating Disorders Coalition
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Why I come to EDC lobby days every year: We need you to come too!
By Gail Schoenbach, EDC Advocate and Board Member
from New Jersey
I was bulimic for 23 years. I started treatment at 40 years old. I came home after a 6 week inpatient stay on my 41st birthday and 2 weeks later decided to go to Washington DC and lobby for the passage of mental health parity with the Eating Disorders Coalition. I really had no idea what that meant, but what I did know was that with treatment, I was recovering. Members of Congress and insurance companies needed to hear this and I wanted them to make sure that other people suffering from eating disorders would have access to the treatment they needed.
Lobbying with the EDC, meeting the wonderful people that are all part of this organization and informing Members of Congress about eating disorders continues to amaze and impress me. I remember that first time I went to lobby day thinking that I didn’t even know people could enter these historic buildings and go to the offices of our legislators, and actually meet them in person on occasion. It was at that point, that I began to comprehend exactly what we were doing and that we were being heard and helping to influence decisions that ultimately could make changes.
The first time I went lobbying was most amazing, since I had no idea whatsoever what it meant to go and lobby. Not being particularly politically knowledgeable, I went into really clueless. It was two weeks after I got out of inpatient treatment and my husband came with me to DC. As I recall, it was the second lobby event for the EDC. The night before the lobby day was a reception where we were introduced to so many people and big time legislators were honored at the event that night. Hillary Clinton was there and Paul Wellstone, and it was quite a thrill for me to be a part of the beginning of helping to introduce mental health parity. I had a story to tell and experience with insurance company issues and the next day at lobby training, I started to learn how the lobbying procedure works and how my part would fit in.
It was very exciting, a little scary and intimidating but the experience was so good for me and really allowed me to speak out for myself and the cause. I was hooked and knew this would be the first of many more for me. I have been lobbying for 8 years now.
Each time after that first experience, I gained more confident and got more and more familiar with the ins and outs of what you do when you lobby; making appointments, meeting with legislative aides and sometimes the legislator themselves. At the end of the day, I always get such a feeling of excitement and purpose.
I developed a relationship with one of the representatives from my district in NJ, and on several occasions I met with him in my home town as well as in DC when we lobbyied. He was very supportive of the EDC and when the FREED Act first came on the scene, he had agreed to be one of our lead sponsors of the bill.
That particular lobby day when the Congressman agreed he would sponsor the FREED Act for us was so exciting as I experienced first hand how those relationships and persistence with the offices can really pay off. Like anything else, I have learned it is often timing and luck, but then I remember that these people would not know about any of this, if we didn’t show up to tell them about it. That’s how they learn about eating disorders and the need for federal policy, when we tell them about it.
The Eating Disorders Coalition has given eating disorders and everyone affected by them in some way, purpose, meaning and hope. I know how to use my voice now. Every single person who has suffered has something important to say and that the words do get heard. The results from lobbying can take awhile to happen, but the process is rewarding, just like recovery.
This experience continues to amaze me. I get something new from it every time I go to Washington. Every time I meet someone new, every time I talk to someone, every time I continue to be a part of this group and movement that is making a difference gives my eating disorder’s history value and meaning. Sharing my recovery and telling the representatives of our government what we need them to do benefits everyone. Our information is invaluable and we have to be the ones that tell them, so they can make the changes that we need.
I invite you to join us on our next lobby day September 29th and 30th. We need your voice and you will love it!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Updated and TIME SENSITIVE Action Alert! Ask Michelle Obama to address eating disorders!
On Tuesday, July 13, 2010, in a video chat about the Let’s Move Campaign, the First Lady said, “The flip side to obesity can be eating disorders and we certainly don't want to enforce the reverse trend." ~~ We ARE making an impact --as evidenced by her language yesterday-- but we have more work to do to ensure the Let's Move Campaign properly addresses eating and body image disorders. We believe that including information on eating disorders in public statements, tools and guides for the Let’s Move Campaign would strengthen the First Lady’s mission to support and improve child health. Here's how you can help make that happen:
___________________________________________________________________
The Eating Disorders Coalition (EDC) is working with Congressman Alcee Hastings, who is asking Michelle Obama to expand her Childhood Obesity Initiative so that it also addresses eating disorders. Congressman Hastings has written the below letter to the First Lady. We are looking for additional Members of Congress to join them in taking a stand for eating disorders by signing onto this letter.
This is where you come in!
We ask that you call your Representative in the House and ask her/him to sign onto this letter. This is important. We have an opportunity to influence Michelle Obama's initiative so that it is more comprehensive and addresses the spectrum of eating disorders as well as obesity.
If you do one thing today - have it be this. Contact your Representative now.
Here's how:
1) Who is my Representative? If you don't know who your representative is
- go to www.house.gov
- put your 9 digit zip code into the box in upper left corner
- This will take you to your Representative
2) Calling your Rep
- Call 202-224-3121 which is the Capitol Switchboard and ask for your Rep's office. They will connect you
3) The MESSAGE (what you say when calling) ---
Tell the person answering that you are a constituent and that you would like him/her to sign onto Alcee Hastings letter that urges Michelle Obama to incorporate eating disorders into her childhood obesity campaign. The deadline for signing onto the letter is NOON ON FRIDAY, July 16th.
The receptionist may transfer you to the health legislative assistant who is in charge of this issue. You then repeat your message. You can also get this person's email address and send the letter below...
If you need more message: Everyday people are dying of eating disorders yet this reality remains unrecognized and hidden. When there is such a focus on weight as is the case in the First Lady's initiative - this invariably results in some people using risky weight loss methods, the increase of weight-related stigma and bullying, and developing eating disorders. Unless Michelle Obama overtly includes a discussion of eating disorders in her efforts there is the unintended possibility that her campaign will do harm. If your boss adds his/her name to this letter it will help influence the First Lady's Initiative so that it is comprehensive and promotes health for all children.
If the office wants to sign on to this letter, they should contact Amye Greene at 5-1313 or amye.greene@mail.house.gov --- This is for Members of Congress and their staff ONLY - please do not contact Amye as an advocate.
Below is what you would send in an email if the person you speak with would like further information. Please cc: "policyassistantEDC@yahoo.com":
SUPPORT A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO IMPROVING THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN!
Alcee L. Hastings
Member of Congress
_________________________
Please email policyassistantedc@yahoo.com once you have made your phone calls to report who you called.
Thank you for adding your voice to this effort. Every call makes a difference!
___________________________________________________________________
The Eating Disorders Coalition (EDC) is working with Congressman Alcee Hastings, who is asking Michelle Obama to expand her Childhood Obesity Initiative so that it also addresses eating disorders. Congressman Hastings has written the below letter to the First Lady. We are looking for additional Members of Congress to join them in taking a stand for eating disorders by signing onto this letter.
This is where you come in!
We ask that you call your Representative in the House and ask her/him to sign onto this letter. This is important. We have an opportunity to influence Michelle Obama's initiative so that it is more comprehensive and addresses the spectrum of eating disorders as well as obesity.
If you do one thing today - have it be this. Contact your Representative now.
Here's how:
1) Who is my Representative? If you don't know who your representative is
- go to www.house.gov
- put your 9 digit zip code into the box in upper left corner
- This will take you to your Representative
2) Calling your Rep
- Call 202-224-3121 which is the Capitol Switchboard and ask for your Rep's office. They will connect you
3) The MESSAGE (what you say when calling) ---
Tell the person answering that you are a constituent and that you would like him/her to sign onto Alcee Hastings letter that urges Michelle Obama to incorporate eating disorders into her childhood obesity campaign. The deadline for signing onto the letter is NOON ON FRIDAY, July 16th.
The receptionist may transfer you to the health legislative assistant who is in charge of this issue. You then repeat your message. You can also get this person's email address and send the letter below...
If you need more message: Everyday people are dying of eating disorders yet this reality remains unrecognized and hidden. When there is such a focus on weight as is the case in the First Lady's initiative - this invariably results in some people using risky weight loss methods, the increase of weight-related stigma and bullying, and developing eating disorders. Unless Michelle Obama overtly includes a discussion of eating disorders in her efforts there is the unintended possibility that her campaign will do harm. If your boss adds his/her name to this letter it will help influence the First Lady's Initiative so that it is comprehensive and promotes health for all children.
If the office wants to sign on to this letter, they should contact Amye Greene at 5-1313 or amye.greene@mail.house.gov --- This is for Members of Congress and their staff ONLY - please do not contact Amye as an advocate.
Below is what you would send in an email if the person you speak with would like further information. Please cc: "policyassistantEDC@yahoo.com":
SUPPORT A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO IMPROVING THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN!
URGE THE FIRST LADY TO INCORPORATE EATING DISORDERS INTO THE LET’S MOVE CAMPAIGN!
Deadline: Friday, July 16 at NOON
Signees: Reps. Arcuri, Baldwin, Capps, Courtney, Deutch, Edwards (MD), Ellison, Frank, Grijalva, Hodes, Kennedy, Kilpatrick, Meek (FL), Napolitano, Maloney, Pascrell, Towns, Price (NC), Shea-Porter, Schwartz, and Wasserman Schultz
This letter is supported by the following organizations (28): American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Academy for Eating Disorders, A Chance to Heal, American Dance Therapy Association, American Group Psychotherapy Association, Anxiety Disorders Association of America, Avalon Hills Residential Eating Disorder Programs, Binge Eating Disorders Association, Cedar Associates, Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt, Clinical Social Work Association, Eating Disorders Coalition, EDReferral.com, The Emily Program, F.E.A.S.T., Gail R. Schoenbach FREED Foundation, Gurze Books, Maudsley Parents, Mental Health America, MentorCONNECT, Monte Nido Treatment Center, Multi-Services Eating Disorder Association, National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Eating Disorders, National Eating Disorders Association, Pennsylvania Education Network for Eating Disorders, Renfrew Center, School Social Work Association of America, and The Emily Program Foundation
July 14, 2010
Dear Colleague,
In February, First Lady Michelle Obama introduced the Let’s Move Campaign, and took a historic step in combating childhood obesity and improving the health of families and communities.
Like obesity, unhealthy weight loss measures, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating and eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS) have increased significantly over the past few decades. Although obesity and eating disorders have distinct health impacts, they both have negatively impacted the physical, emotional and educational development of children. Many obese individuals also resort to unhealthy weight loss tactics and may develop eating disorders in an attempt to achieve a desired weight or body image.
In a recent video chat about the Let’s Move Campaign, the First Lady said, “The flip side to obesity can be eating disorders and we certainly don't want to enforce the reverse trend." Although we are pleased that she mentioned eating disorders, we believe that including information on eating disorders in public statements, tools and guides for the Let’s Move Campaign would strengthen the First Lady’s mission to support and improve child health.
The prevalence of obesity and eating disorders indicates the need for a comprehensive and well-coordinated intervention that supports healthier eating habits and improves the mental and physical health of all children. Please join me in sending a letter to the First Lady urging her to take a more holistic approach to addressing behaviors that are compromising the health of our children. If you have any questions or wish to sign on to this letter, contact Amye Greene at 5-1313 or amye.greene@mail.house.gov.
Sincerely,
Alcee L. Hastings
Member of Congress
DISCUSSION DRAFT
July 21, 2010
The First Lady of the United States
The White House
441 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear First Lady Michelle Obama,
Thank you for championing the health and welfare of our nation’s children through the Let’s Move Campaign. Let’s Move has brought historic attention to the importance of addressing one the most serious public health concerns of today. Although we applaud that you mentioned eating disorders during a recent Let’s Move event, we believe that broadening Let’s Move’s focus to include information about eating disorders would enhance the campaign’s mission to improve the mental and physical health of all children.
We understand that obesity and eating disorders have distinct health impacts, and believe that the prevalence of these disorders indicates the need for comprehensive and well-coordinated interventions that support healthier habits and environments. Like obesity, unhealthy weight loss measures, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating and eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS) have increased significantly over the past few decades. In fact, more than 11 million men, women and children suffer from an eating disorder in the United States.
In a speech that publicly introduced the Let’s Move Campaign, you stated that unhealthy diets and habits can negatively influence physical, emotional and educational development and well-being. Eating disorders are no exception. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that undernourishment impacts a student’s ability to excel academically, and suicide, anxiety and depression are more common in people with eating disorders. Eating disorders also have the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses, and can result in long-term health issues including heart and kidney failure, cognitive impairment, muscle atrophy and sudden death.
Like obesity, eating disorders afflict children of different ages, genders, economic backgrounds, and ethnicities. At least 30-40 percent of junior high students have reported dieting, over half of high-school girls have reported dieting, and 25 percent of bulimia and anorexia cases are men. What’s more, student athletes can be especially vulnerable to eating disorders because some adopt unhealthy dietary restrictions and weight loss methods to achieve or maintain a certain weight for competition. Many obese individuals resort to unhealthy weight loss tactics and may develop eating disorders in an attempt to achieve a desired weight or body image.
Strong environmental, cultural, social factors have contributed to the high rates of obesity and eating disorders in the United States. Stigma, blame and misinformation often accompany these conditions. Coordinated efforts among educators, elected officials, parents, community leaders and young people are crucial to executing sustainable solutions to these public health problems. We believe that the Let’s Move Campaign’s mission is compatible with messages and interventions that are designed to address eating disorders.
Educators could incorporate information about unhealthy dieting when providing information about healthy food choices. Speeches and parental toolkits could include information about risks, signs and support networks for eating disorders. Let’s Move programs could be designed to teach children to respect body size diversity, promote self esteem, and support body satisfaction. And, the Let’s Move Web site could include a link to the Office of Women’s Health Web site which has comprehensive and evidence based information on eating disorders.
The unprecedented leadership in the battle against obesity through the Let’s Move Campaign shows your commitment to creatively and aggressively improving the health of children, families and communities. We hope that you will take our suggestions into consideration so that the Let’s Move Campaign can take a more holistic approach to addressing the full spectrum of behaviors that are compromising the health of America’s children.
Sincerely,
Alcee L. Hastings
Member of Congress
_________________________
Please email policyassistantedc@yahoo.com once you have made your phone calls to report who you called.
Thank you for adding your voice to this effort. Every call makes a difference!
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