Updated March 2016
Two years ago on April 17, 2013, I traveled to Phoenix to attend a rally and to speak to legislators during a briefing sponsored by Arizona State Senator Katie Hobbs. I wrote about my trip here.
Senator Hobbs, with the assistance of the National Eating Disorder Association's STAR Program Manager Kerry Dolan and STAR advocate Angela Bernhardt, began work on legislation that Senator Hobbs presented to the State Legislature during the 2014-15 session. The proposed legislation was referred to the Health and Human Services Committee, Senator Nancy Barto as chairperson, where it died for lack of support.
A progress report that appeared in the Phoenix area newspaper The Foothills Focus on February 25, 2015, and written by Lauren Potter can be accessed here. Among the points noted,
"....Hobbs’ proposed bill SB1427 ... propose[d] an eating disorders study committee be established to assess the impact of expanding the insurance coverage of eating disorder-related treatments. The committee would also study the demographics and prevalence of eating disorders in Arizona, as well as their economic impacts."
Rather than let the matter drop, Senator Hobbs and Senator Catherine Miranda presented a resolution - Senate Resolution 1003 - to the assembled legislators in session on February 28, 2015. Angela Bernhardt and I were introduced to those present. The resolution was voted upon unanimously and accepted. By clicking on the words "Senate Resolution 1003", the reader can access the text of the resolution. The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) issued a press release about the resolution along with activities in other states including Ohio (particularly the cities of Cincinnatti and Cleveland) and Utah. The NEDA press release can be found here.
Many of us are hopeful that legislation will be proposed again this next year. Work is needed to develop relationships and understanding with those who have the power to advance the legislation beyond the subcommittee. If a reader knows of a Republican legislator who has expressed interest in this legislation or even has a personal connection with someone who has an eating disorder, please pass along the information.
Meanwhile, many advocates were thrilled to learn that in June, the State of Missouri passed legislation - SB 145 - that that requires coverage by insurance companies for the treatment of eating
disorders. More information can be gained at the Missouri Eating Disorders Association advocacy website. Here is the text of SB 145.
In addition, on the national level, the Anna Westin Act - HR 2515 - has been introduced in the House thanks to the co-sponsorship by Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL). The Eating Disorder Coalition has continued to provide updates on the progress of this Act. Today's update includes the news that former Congressmen Patrick Kennedy and Jim Ramstad expressed intent to include eating disorders and residential treatment in the Mental Health Parity. Here is the link to their letter of support directed to the co-sponsors. And, here is the text of HR 2515.
Update: The Eating Disorder Coalition announced today (7/28/2015) that Senator Kelly Ayotte (Rep, NH) has been joined by Senator Tammy Baldwin (Dem, WI), Senator Shelley Moore Capito (Rep, WVa), and Senator Amy Klobuchar (Dem, MN) in support of a Senate companion bill to HR 2515 introduced by Senator Ayotte earlier this year.
Meanwhile, I am working on my three-minute presentation to Legislators on The Hill in Washington, DC. Again, if my and my family member's story can lead to legislation calling for adequate care upon first diagnosis, what a difference that would make!
Another update: today (March 17, 2016) the Eating Disorder Coalition announced that the key provisions from the Anna Westin Act passed the Senate HELP Committee today.
One step at a time......
Information is provided about eating disorders, particularly of adults, to parents and other loved ones written by a parent who is in recovery from an eating disorder.
Welcome
When I created this blog, I was "getting on" in my early sixties, hence the blog name. However, my adult daughter's eating disorder and co-occurring emotional dysregulation disorder and other co-morbidities - ongoing for about 33 years - became and was our focus as we attempted to help her get into recovery. By learning about, reflecting on, reading about, attending conferences and writing about eating and brain disorders, I created a place to blog what I've learned. I hope this blog will be of use to others, especially families of and adult sufferers themselves to help them get into recovery. I update posts from time and the update date will be present at the top of the post.
Sadly, my daughter passed away in early October 2021 mainly because her body became so malnourished that she was immunocompromised, contracted a severe infection that was not properly addressed during an earlier hospital stay the month before, and developed an overwhelming non-covid pneumonia following surgery to save her life. I believe she should have been able to receive palliative care but Arizona, our country, and even the professionals trained in the treatment of eating disorders, particularly anorexia, are not "there" yet. I address the issue of palliative care in a recent post below, initially written in November 2021. I am not a certified eating disorder specialist. I am an Expert by Experience and college-educated with a BA in Community Work with an additional certificate in a one-year program in Business Administration from the same institution.
I am passionate about all of this because, as Shakespeare wrote in The Taming of the Shrew, Act 4, Scene 3: "My tongue will tell the anger [and sadness] of my heart or else my heart, concealing it, will break. And, rather than it shall, I will be free even to the uttermost, as I please in words."[2016]
Travel Guide
If you're new to my blog, I recommend you begin on the right side and take a look at the "Of Note" offerings. Read Dr. Cynthia Bulik's recent published interview (5/4/22) "Rethinking Eating Disorders" if you want to print an easy-to-understand professional's expert opinion about anorexia for your family doctor or the therapist. [Early intervention is absolutely critical. For those whose eating disorder is categorized as entrenched or severe and enduring, read the editorial comment by Stephen Touyz and Philipa Hay for a new approach about treatment. It is possible for your loved one to recover! I have also attached a link here for additional papers on the subject of severe and entrenched eating disorders. If you are a family member or friend of an adult with an eating disorder and have been at this for awhile, I refer you to the posts within the title "Adult Eating Disorders and Recovery Tools" found in the Index on the right hand side of this site. As well, in the "Of Note" section take a look at those posts with an asterisk. If you're a parent and need support, look for posts in the Index about parent support or parent toolbox.
In my opinion, the best book to buy, to refer to constantly and to share with members of the medical/psychiatric profession is "Sick Enough: A Guide to the Medical Complications of Eating Disorders" by Jennifer L. Gaudiani MD, CEDS, FAED. "Dr. Gaudiani aims to improve medical diagnosis and treatment, motivate recovery, and validate the lived experiences of individuals of all body shapes and sizes, while firmly rejecting dieting culture."
I recommend two groups who will support you on your journey - F.E.A.S.T and the National Alliance for Eating Disorders. Both maintain websites and Facebook private groups.
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