Educating Congress One Office At a Time

The EDC is an organization that’s primary purposes is to influence federal policy. We do that through a variety of ways, we draft and advocate for legislation such as the FREED Act, work with the Administration such as submitting comments of proposed rules, and we work with Congress on relevant pending legislation. However, at the most basic level, our work consists of meeting with Members of Congress and/or their staff and educating them on eating disorders. We brief them on the seriousness of eating disorders, we discuss current eating disorders policy, relevant legislation, and current problems with eating disorders coverage. 

Some Members of Congress we frequently work with are great champions for our cause. We developed a relationship with them and they rely on our expertise and advice. However, we need more Members to care about this important cause. We need to develop these relationships with more Members, we need eating disorders to be an issue that every Member of Congress cares about. Because of this we meet with every office every year. 

There are 435 Representatives, 100 Senators, and 6 delegates (these non-voting members represent District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands). The EDC meets with every office every year. That is 541 offices every year. We meet with Members and/or their staff and we educate them on eating disorder, we discuss the FREED Act, Parity concerns, and ask for their support. Every year. Every office. 

Join us on September 18 for Lobby Day, and meet with a few of these offices yourself and help get your Members of Congress to champion this great cause with us.  

What Does the Latest Health Reform Delay Mean?

You may have heard the news that there was a delay on Health Reform.  What does that mean? Will it effect eating disorders coverage? What parts of health reform do matter? 

As you likely know, there are several components to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) also called ‘Health Reform.’ The EDC is working to insure the implementation of the ACA is the most beneficial to people with eating disorders, and providers treating eating disorders, but also to monitor the implementation so we can keep our members aware of current events and alert them to any concerns. 

Last week, the Treasury Department announced that it would delay enforcement of the employer mandate penalties and reporting requirements. The practical implication of this is pretty minimal as most employers subject to the mandate already offer insurance.  The mandate covers only employers with more than 50 full-time (or full-time-equivalent) employees.  It’s important to note that 98% of employers with more than 200 employees offer health insurance, as do 94% of employers with 50-100 employees[1].  The majority of employers currently offer insurance that is both affordable and adequate, (terms defined in the ACA) so it is unlikely this will have a huge practical impact.  

As mentioned in a previous blog post (click here) the primary focus of the Eating Disorders Coalition is the implementation of the state exchanges. In three months, we expect the first open enrollment period for the exchanges to begin. The EDC is working to educate our members, and to work in the states about any coverage changes expected by the ACA.

We will continue blogging on the aspects of the ACA that are applicable to eating disorders and keep you up to date.

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[1] KFF http://kff.org/report-section/ehbs-2012-section-2/

The House of Representatives Responds to the EDC Request to Send a Letter to Secretary Sebelius Urging Parity for Eating Disorders!

The EDC thanks all of you who responded to our action alert and reached out to your Representatives! The House of Representatives has sent a letter to Secretary Kathleen Sebelius urging parity for eating disorders. This is a companion letter to one the EDC did with the Senate .

 

 We want to especially thank our House champions, Representatives Ted Deutch, Alcee Hastings and Hank Johnson. Their offices worked tirelessly with the EDC to build support for the letter and coordinated the House effort. We are very proud to announce the letter is signed by 17 Representatives. In addition to our three champions, the letter is also signed by Representatives John Conyers, Charles Rangel, Eliot Engel, James Moran , Carolyn Maloney, Lois Capps, Allyson Schwartz, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Keith Ellison, Timothy Walz, Michael Michaud , Richard Nolan, Jared Polis,  and Lois Frankel.

 

The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act passed in 2008 (MHPAEA). Nearly five years later we are still waiting for HHS to promulgate the final regulations.  Very simply, the Parity regulations will explain how the HHS will interpret the law.  MHPAEA regulations are long overdue, and because they are so overdue we’ve seen a lot of confusion around the interpretation of parity law. See our previous post here.

 

This letter is so important because it not only urges HHS to promulgate the rules on Parity, but goes further requesting that HHS (1) clarify that denying coverage for residential inpatient treatment for eating disorders because there is not a ‘medical analogy’ is a violation of existing parity law and (2) applying limits to scope of treatment for eating disorders more restrictively than medical/surgical benefits is a violation of parity.  This clarity in the final rule would prevent many people suffering with an eating disorder.

Lobby Days and More: EDC Moves The National Agenda on Eating Disorders Policy Forward

Our Spring Lobby Day was in April and we are busy prepping for our Fall Lobby Day (September 18). This time of year, we sometimes get the question "What does the EDC do between lobby days?”

EDC celebrates our 13th year of bringing together advocates from across the country to lobby day where we push for policies that make a difference to those suffering from eating disoders. Think of our lobby days as a cornerstone to our legislative strategy. They are crucial to our efforts; those of you who have participated know that. In between lobby days, we prepare the ground for future lobby days and build on the work of lobby days throughout the year.

So what is EDC doing?  We are actively working on making the FREED Act become law. We have regular meetings with House and Senate staff to lobby for FREED, ensure new and existing legislation includes eating disorders provisions (see blog on Mental Health Bill), the sign on letters asking Secretary Sebelius to clarify existing parity law, and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. In addition, we meet with the Administration when necessary and continue to increase grassroots support by reaching out to you and to other like-minded organizations. In fact EDC collaborates regularly with national organizations – more than 100 of us come together once a month to work together on promoting mental health policies.  EDC also continues to explore additional legislative priorities and policies, which will advance eating disorders policy.

Thank you to all of you for your support and be sure to join us at our Fall Lobby Day on September 18 to lend your voice to move these priorities forward! We couldn’t do what we do year-around without you.

More than 40 Organizations Support EDC’s Successful Policy Efforts!

 

EDC hit the ground running this year as we continue pushing for federal policies that make a difference in people’s lives. As many of you know, EDC worked closely with a new champion to get the FREED Act introduced, we secured a Senate Letter to Secretary Sebelius where Senators asked for clarity in the parity regulations, and we are working on a similar House letter.  We held a successful Spring Lobby Day and are gearing up for another one in the fall.  Plan to participate in our Fall Lobby Day September 18, 2013.

We want to give a shout out to all our Members who support EDC’s successful policy efforts including our lobby days.  Thank you!

 

 

Executive Circle

Avalon Hills Residential Eating Disorders Program

Eating Recovery Center

The Emily Program

The Emily Program Foundation

Kantor & Kantor, LLP

Oliver-Pyatt Centers

Renfrew Center Foundation

 

Leadership Circle

Academy for Eating Disorders

Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness

CRC Health

Eating Disorder Recovery Consulting

The Eating Disorders Center at Rogers Memorial Hospital

Gail R. Schoenbach FREED Foundation

 

Advocacy Circle

Eating Disorder Center of Denver

Laureate Psychiatric Hospital

Monte Nido Treatment Center

 

Support Circle

Binge Eating Disorder Association

CEDAR Associates

Center for Change

The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt

Eating Disorder Hope

Gurze Books

Inner Door Center Foundation

International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals Foundation

Multi-Services Eating Disorders Association

Park Nicollet Melrose Institute

Puente de Vida

Rader Programs

Rosewood Centers for Eating Disorders

Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center

Wrobel & Smith, PLLP

 

Hope Circle

AABA-Philadelphia

Eating Disorders Resource Center

EDReferral.com

FEAST

The International Federation of Eating Disorders Dietitians

MentorCONNECT

Metro Behavioral Health Associates

National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Eating Disorders

Pennsylvania Education Network for Eating Disorders

River Centre Foundation

Theravive

FREED Act Introduced!

The Eating Disorder Coalition (EDC) applauds Representative Ted Deutch’s (D-FL)  introduction of H.R. 2101 the Federal Response to Eliminate Eating Disorders Act of 2013 (FREED Act). The FREED Act is comprehensive legislation that is a crucial step in responding to eating disorders.

“Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, and yet those suffering too often find themselves marginalized and without treatment,” said Congressman Deutch. “The ignorance in our society surrounding eating disorders is costing us lives, and the federal government has a responsibility to take action. I have sponsored the FREED Act to better educate our communities about eating disorders, provide for much-needed research, and ultimately improve access to treatment before it’s too late.”

 

EDC President Johanna Kandel said, “We thank Congressman Deutch for being a champion for eating disorders and are grateful that he has introduced this important piece of legislation. The FREED Act will not only help us to better understand eating disorders, it will improve the access to treatment for those currently suffering with an eating disorder. Eating disorders are not a partisan issue and the FREED Act has the potential to save thousands of lives. We urge Congress to pass this bill quickly.”

 

The FREED Act would provide funding and direction to NIH for research and surveillance, provides for education and prevention activities, and improves access to treatment of eating disorders by requiring coverage of eating disorders be consistent with coverage of medical/surgical benefits.

The introduction of the FREED Act was a focus of EDC’s spring lobby day. EDC members and supporters traveled to Washington to advocate for the introduction of the FREED Act, and to increase support for FREED and eating disorders policy on the Hill.

Original cosponsors of H.R. 2101 are:  Reps. Gerald Connolly (VA-11), John Conyers (MI-13), Keith Ellison (MN-5), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Alcee L. Hastings (FL-20), Hank Johnson (GA-4), Carolyn Maloney (NY-12), Carolyn McCarthy (NY-4),  James Moran (VA-8), Patrick Murphy (FL-18), Richard Nolan (MN-8), Chellie Pingree (ME-1), Jared Polis (CO-2), Allyson Schwartz (PA-13), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23).

 

 

EDC Applauds Christine Quinn’s Bravery

The Eating Disorders Coalition (EDC) applauds New York Mayoral Candidate Christine Quinn for her bravery in discussing her struggle with bulimia. (For those of you haven’t read her story click here to see the NY Times article)  It was a courageous thing Ms. Quinn did by sharing her story.

The EDC is very familiar with the shame and secrecy that often surrounds eating disorders.  So often those suffering with eating disorders, particularly public figures are ashamed of their personal connection to an eating disorder. By Ms. Quinn openly sharing her story, she has challenged the stigma around eating disorders; she has assured millions currently suffering with an eating disorder, and millions more in recovery that they are not alone. If you are currently suffering or have a family member who is, please know this: you are not alone.

Thank you to Ms. Quinn for sharing your story. We are grateful that she had access to and received the necessary care to recover from her eating disorder. We hope that many others may be inspired to receive the care they need by reading her story. One of the many reasons we continue to work hard to ensure that everyone who needs care has access to it; by advocating for the FREED Act and for the Congressional letters regarding parity for eating disorders.

 May Ms. Quinn’s courage also embolden others to share their personal journey through an eating disorder into recovery. It is time that we bring eating disorders out of the shadows.