Support bill to treat eating disorders

By Dr. Leslie Murray

During my training in child psychiatry, I took special interest in working with children struggling with eating disorders. In Iowa, there is only one comprehensive eating disorders treatment facility.

While grateful for the one facility we do have, I also find it unacceptable. Imagine having only one facility that treats cancer in the entire state of Iowa?

Eating disorders are unfortunately far too common in the United States and in Iowa.

More than 11 million people suffer from eating disorders in the United States. research shows 3.5 percent of women and 2 percent of men reported having binge-eating disorder during their lifetime. Approximately 1.5 percent of women and 0.5 percent of men reported having bulimia and 0.9 percent of women and 0.3 percent of men have anorexia at some time in their lives.

Nearly half of all Americans personally know someone with an eating disorder. And too many people actually know someone who has died of an eating disorder. What many people do not know, however, is the battle being fought with insurance companies when someone affected by an eating disorder tries to obtain lifesaving treatment.

While in medical school, I certainly learned and practiced how to give patients and their families bad news. What I did not learn is how to tell my patients that their insurance didn't cover their condition, denied their hospital stay or felt that they did not qualify for the level of care that their doctor determined was medically necessary to save their life.

What I didn't learn in medical school was how to discharge a patient who was still so sick her life was in jeopardy - because her health insurance company would only authorize a few days of treatment coverage.

Given these circumstances, I was relieved to learn of The Federal Response to Eliminate Eating Disorders Act (FREED Act) this year. The FREED Act was introduced into the House (H.R. 1193) by Congressman Patrick Kennedy on Feb. 25, 2009. This past April, Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa introduced the Senate version (S 3260) with his colleagues Senators Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. The FREED Act is the first comprehensive bill addressing eating disorders in the history of Congress. This bill focuses on treatment, research, education and prevention. If it were to pass, people would no longer be denied lifesaving treatment.

It was a joy to lobby my representatives this year as a member of the Eating Disorders Coalition to co-sponsor this important bill. Instead of being disenchanted with policies, I took my feelings straight to lawmakers, and sat down with Rep. Dave Loebsack, 2nd District, Iowa, as well as knowledgeable staff from Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley's office. Mr. Loebsack recently signed on as a co-sponsor in the House.

While my passion is resolute, I was the lone Iowa voice this year. We simply need more Iowans to represent our cause.

Eating disorders are serious, life-threatening diseases and those suffering deserve access to appropriate treatment. The physicians who treat those with eating disorders deserve to be armed with the knowledge of how to appropriately do so. Iowans deserve prevention programs to help ensure that future generations do not fall victim to the No. 1 killer among all mental health illnesses combined.

Together we can all do something to make a difference. Here's how:

1. Join in the Eating Disorders Letter Writing Campaign by visiting: www.eatingdisorders coalition.org/Letter writingcampaign2010.htm

2. Call your congressman and senators today. Thank or urge them to support H.R.1193/S.3260, the FREED Act.

3. Join the Eating Disorders Coalition www.eatingdisorders

coalition.org.

Dr. Leslie Murray practices child psychiatry in Cedar Rapids. Comments: lesliemurraymd@googlemail.com