Eating disorder bill gets House committee hearing
Bill sponsor Rachel Storch
JEFFERSON CITY — Supporters of a bill that would require insurance coverage of eating disorders have accomplished their goal for the session: a committee hearing in both chambers.
The House Special Committee on Health Insurance devoted 35 minutes to the bill today, most of which involved emotional testimony from those most affected by eating disorders.
John Culp, whose daughter died of an eating disorder last week, invited those opposed to the bill to her funeral.
“There is nothing worse in the world than to lose a son or daughter,” he said.
“Put away your damn parties and do something for Missourians,” he said later.
Dr. Kim McCallum, who runs a treatment center for eating disorders in St. Louis, said she’s had many patients who had to leave before they were well. One patient. McCallum said, told her it was like being pulled off a respirator before she could breathe.
And Rebecca Lester, a medical anthropologist who studies eating disorders at Washington University, said this sort of treatment is crucial.
“Relapse is inevitable if the patients don’t get the care they need,” she said.
Brook Balentine, 30, got help for her eating disorder in 2007. She said after two weeks of treatment, her insurance company determined she had reached a healthy weight, and ended treatment.
“My mental state regarding this disorder was far from healthy,” she said. Balentine continued treatment anyway.
The lone opposition to the bill, a lobbyist for insurance companies, said the companies would rather work out a non-mandate.
While the bill has almost no chance of passing this year, sponsor Rep. Rachel Storch, D-St. Louis, said she hopes in will gain momentum in the coming sessions.
The bills are HB519 and SB463, sponsored by Sen. Rita Heard Days
treatment for someone with a eating disorder, could be medical marijuana. after a couple puffs you would be going to white castle. and the leaders in jeff city won’t let hb277-medical marijuana- go to a commitee hearing. that’s wrong.
I’m sick of people telling me its just a phase when I know people out there dying from eating disorders! Lend a hand; don’t avoid the problem people.
http://www.eatingdisorder.com/anorexia-nervosa.html?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=pv&utm_content=zs&utm_campaign=anorexia
I hope this bill passes. These poor families.
Treatment for individuals with eating disorders is a necessity! Eating disorders are a cancer ripping away the life of the individual that is suffering. I was at the House Hearing yesterday and I was moved to tears. This bill is so important to all who struggle and would save so many lives.
My name is Angela Schubert and I am an eating disorder therapist in St. Louis, Missouri. I was present to testify for this hearing but due to the minimal amount of time available I offered my spot to those who have lost their loved ones, like Mr. Culp. If you were there you would know how heavy the room felt after all those who were in favor of HB 519 spoke. As the stories were told several people began to weep, even a few of the representatives, and there was not one individual in the room who didn’t hear the cries of the mourning mother.
The only comments heard by the opposing group, a representative of the insurance companies, when prompted to answer a question from the rep on behalf of HB 519 document, explained, “I’m sorry but I’ve seen a lot of bills recently and you will have to refresh my memory.” I’m not sure how many bills were actually seen by the representative but I highly doubt that HB519 would be so easily forgotten.
Lives have been lost and hundreds and thousands of people will die as a result of this mental illness if we do not take a stand for those afflicted with eating disorders. As Missouri constituents, it is our duty to take care of the people in our state. Find your representatives and express your concern for HB 519 and SB 463. THEY WILL LISTEN!
as a therapist in St. Louis who works primarily with eating disorders, i extend a giant THANK YOU to everyone who has worked so diligently on getting these bills passed. it is crucial that those suffering with this devastating disease are heard and receive the treatment that is recommended by their therapists & physicians. watching clients go untreated due to insurance loopholes & denials is heart-wrenching. with the passage of HB519 & SB463, we can finally dictate to insurance companies what is important (instead of the other way around)!
To clarify: Neither of the bills has been passed. A committee hearing is one of the first steps in a long process toward turning a bill into a law.
yes….and that’s why it’s so important for everyone to contact their representatives! it only takes a few minutes to send a letter or make a call. these bills are totally worth those few minutes to families who are effected by this illness.