A message from :
Good morning,
The Eating Disorders Coalition has put out an important action alert for us — we have an opportunity to advocate that tragic insurance denials for eating disorders treatment be a thing of the past. Please consider adding your voice to this action by sending comments to The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) by 5 PM TODAY (10/31). All comments can be emailed to externalaffairs@hhs.gov.
What it’s all about:
A key component of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is the requirement that all insurance plans offered through the exchanges must cover, at a minimum, a number of Essential Health Benefits. Mental health is one of these Essential Health Benefits (EHB) that must be included.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is tasked with promulgating regulations for how the EHB will be designed and implemented (aka: HHS is RIGHT NOW deciding what these “Essential Health Benefits” will ‘look like’ in the lives of each of us.)
The EDC is asking HHS to incorporate three recommendations into the EHB:
1. Eating disorders should be specifically listed in the EHB;
2. All levels of treatment including residential treatment, as recommended by the APA Guidelines, should be part of the EHB;
3. The definition of medical necessity should be broad and inclusive so that insurers cannot assign medical necessity at random.
How you can take action:
When sending your comments to HHS, please tell them:
1. You urge them to support the 3 above recommendations;
2. Share your personal experience and/or expertise that underscores why these recommendations are important. Personal stories matter to HHS.
Again, all comments should be sent to externalaffairs@hhs.gov by 5PM today. Please also send an email to kmacdonald@eatingdisorderscoalition.org to inform the Eating Disorder Coalition that you sent your comments.
Thank you so much for taking a few minutes out of your day to make an important difference. Together we will improve the lives of those suffering from eating disorders!
