Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Thank You to EDN of Maryland

This past Sunday I had the humbling privilege to speak at the 2nd Annual EDN of Maryland Walkathon, "Be Beautiful...Be YOU! ~ Walking to promote positive body image for everyBODY!"
It was my 2nd time presenting at the EDN Walkathon and I was grateful for the opportunity to inspire hope and encourage advocacy in those affected by eating disorders. I was also thrilled to spend the morning connecting with other ED activists (and their dogs ;-)!
Pictures from the Walkathon can be found on EDN of Maryland's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/EDN-of-Maryland/113984794238

The EDC welcomes opportunities to connect with eating disorder organizations in our efforts to advance the federal recognition of eating disorders as a public health priority; thank you to Sharon Peterson for making this possible via the Walkathon. ~ I hope to see some of yesterday's participants at our EDC National Lobby Day next Tuesday, October 4th!

Thank you for the gift of meeting each of you, and thank you for seeking freedom from the grips of an eating disorder, especially those family members who are helping their loved ones seek freedom. Remember to believe in the hope for life and health restored after the recovery-process.

with care, Kathleen

For more information about EDC National Lobby Day, please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eating-Disorders-Coalition/186592083884
www.eatingdisorderscoalition.org

For more information on The FREED Act, please visit:
http://eatingdisorderscoalition.blogspot.com/2011/07/what-is-freed-act.html

Friday, September 23, 2011

How to Document Evidence Based Treatment to Maximize Insurance Reimbursement

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Lisa Kantor's Online Event with iaedp

As a service to our members we are streaming, on demand, Attorney Lisa's Symposium 2011 presentation on How to Document Evidence Based Treatment to Maximize Insurance Reimbursement. This encore presentation will be followed by a live teleconference call with Lisa on Tuesday, Sept 27 at 7 pm ET/6 pm CT/5 pm MT/4 pm PT for an update and to answer your additional questions. You may watch the 90 minute presentation anytime (at your convenience) starting today.

If you wish to attend the teleconference call, you must register and we ask only those who can attend "live" register for the conference call. Attendance on the call will be limited.

To view the video you must have Windows Media Player. If the version on your computer is not up to date, you may be asked to update it or download the program but the links to do so are provided on the video page. After watching the video, if you want to submit a question to be answered by Lisa on the live teleconference, please submit those questions to iaedpmembers@earthlink.net.

Download Lisa's handouts and materials for this course.

LINKS:



Handouts:

Course Description:

When seeking insurance benefits for eating disorder treatment, a provider’s treatment records will be the foundation for establishing medically necessity for admission and continued treatment. Evidence-based treatment records must show plans of care, symptoms, and objective evidence that satisfy an insurance company’s criteria for admission and continued care. The presentation will review the criteria from insurance companies for treatment of eating disorders and explain how evidence-based treatment records can be documented to best maximize the client’s available insurance benefits.

At the end of this presentation, participants should have an understanding of

1. The criteria used by insurance companies to determine whether benefits are payable for eating disorder treatment;
2. How insurance companies apply their criteria to determine whether benefits are payable for eating disorder treatment; and
3. How providers can document their evidence-based treatment to satisfy the criteria of insurance companies and maximize the client’s insurance benefits.
This is an excellent opportunity for staff training! Hook up an LCD projector, go to the streaming site, and voila!

Monday, September 19, 2011

EDC Applauds F.E.A.S.T.'s Upcoming Conference


The Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action (EDC) congratulates the members of the F.E.A.S.T. Board of Directors on their upcoming conference in November, “The Map Ahead” where the Parent Community Charts A New Course For Activism, Treatment, and Research of Eating Disorders.

How exciting and appropriate that this conference puts mothers and fathers and other family members of those suffering from eating disorders front and center rather than on the fringes. As the first international eating disorders conference organized by parents this is indeed an historic event. We applaud you for your vision and conviction.

We look forward to being part of the rich conversations and urge others to attend this empowering conference.

A hearty congratulations to all involved in the realization of this inspiring vision!


Jeanine Cogan, Ph.D., Policy Director
Eating Disorders Coalition

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

California 9th Circuit Court of Appeal decision in Harlick - Mental Health Parity applies and Blue Shield must pay for residential treatment of eating disorder

California 9th Circuit Court of Appeal decision in Harlick - Mental Health Parity applies and Blue Shield must pay for residential treatment of eating disorder

The EDC applauds and commends Lisa Kantor, LLP for her huge victory in California!  She represented Jeanene Harlick against Blue Shield who refused to pay for her residential treatment.  The case was decided by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeal in California.  The Court found that the California Mental Health Parity Act requires Blue Shield to pay for residential treatment for an eating disorder.  

A few excerpts from the OPINION as follows:

'OPINION
W. FLETCHER, Circuit Judge:
Plaintiff Jeanene Harlick suffers from anorexia nervosa. The question before us is whether Blue Shield was required to pay for her care at a residential treatment facility, either under the terms of her insurance plan or under California’s Mental Health Parity Act. We conclude that her insurance plan does not so require, but that the Mental Health Parity Act does."

For the reasons that follow, we conclude that the Mental Health Parity Act requires that a plan within the scope of the Act provide all “medically necessary treatment” for “severe mental illnesses,” and that Harlick’s residential care at Castle- wood was medically necessary.
1.         Overview of the Act
The California Mental Health Parity Act (“Parity Act” or “Act”) was enacted in 1999. In enacting the statute, the HARLICK v. BLUE SHIELD OF CALIFORNIA          
California legislature found that “[m]ost private health insur- ance policies provide coverage for mental illness at levels far below coverage for other physical illnesses.” 1999 Cal. Legis. Serv. ch. 534 (A.B.88), § 1 (West). The legislature further found that coverage limitations had resulted in inadequate treatment of mental illnesses, causing “relapse and untold suf- fering” for people with treatable mental illnesses, as well as increases in homelessness, increases in crime, and significant demands on the state budget. Id.
To combat this disparity, the Parity Act provides, in perti- nent part:
(a) Every health care service plan contract issued, amended, or renewed on or after July 1, 2000, that provides hospital, medical, or surgical coverage shall provide coverage for the diagnosis and medically necessary treatment of severe mental illnesses of a person of any age . . . under the same terms and con- ditions applied to other medical conditions as speci- fied in subdivision (c).

The EDC supported an Amicus Brief submitted by the International Association of Eating Disorders in support of residential treatment as a necessary step in the continuum of care.  See the brief below.  

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
JEANENE HARLICK     

MOTION BY EATING DISORDERS COALITION FOR RESEARCH, POLICY AND ACTION (“EDC”) FOR LEAVE TO JOIN BRIEF OF AMICUS CURIAE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF EATING DISORDERS PROFESSIONALS (“IAEDP”) IN SUPPORT OF PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT AND REVERSAL OF THE UNDERLYING JUDGMENT

The Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy and Action (“EDC”) respectfully moves this Court, pursuant to Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 29, for leave to join the brief previously filed by amicus curiae International Association of Eating Disorders (“IAEDP”). (IAEDP’s motion for leave to file a brief was concurrently filed with its brief on November 1, 2010, and was referred
California (3:08-CV-03651-SCto the Court’s merits panel on November 17, 2010.) EDC does not wish to file its own separate brief; it only wishes to join the brief previously filed by IAEDP.

Like IAEDP, EDC is a non-profit organization committed to advancing the interests of those afflicted with eating disorders. EDC is comprised of more than thirty organizations, institutions, and programs, including IAEDP. EDC is primarily committed to encouraging the federal recognition of eating disorders as a public health priority. EDC endeavors to persuade Congress and other federal entities to (1) increase resources for research, education, prevention, and improved training; (2) promote federal support for improved access to care; (3) promote the national awareness of eating disorders as a public health problem; and (4) promote initiatives that support the healthy development of children.

Like IAEDP, EDC believes that eating disorders are a widespread, misunderstood, and often overlooked public health problem in the United States. Studies show that approximately eleven million Americans suffer from an eating disorder, nearly half of all Americans personally know someone with an eating disorder, and anorexia nervosa is the third most common chronic illness among adolescents.
Experts in the field of eating disorder treatment have determined that residential treatment is an essential part of the spectrum of appropriate medical care for those suffering from eating disorders. As a result, EDC believes that such care, like any medically necessary medical care, should be covered by insurance. EDC is concerned that the judgment in this case, if upheld by the Court, would inevitably result in decreased access to residential care by eating disorder patients. Such a result would not only endanger the health of patients, but also increase the total cost of treatment as those patients are forced to interrupt their care and change health care providers.

Thus, EDC, like IAEDP, contends that access to appropriate treatment, including residential care covered by insurance, is of critical importance not only to patients but to the health care system as a whole. As a result, EDC hereby seeks to join amicus curiae IAEDP’s brief in support of Plaintiff/Appellant’s brief to reverse the underlying judgment.

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We want to hear from you:  Join the Campaign to Hold Insurance Companies Accountable

The EDC will continue to partner with Lisa Kantor and other lawyers working to Hold Insurance Companies Accountable.  Please join our campaign.  If you have been denied residential treatment for eating disorders we want to hear from you.  Email us at EDCHoldsInsuranceAccountable@yahoo.com