Castlewood Applauds Missouri’s Eating Disorder Insurance Law
ST. LOUIS, Missouri (PRWEB) August 22, 2015 -- In a step forward to addressing the public health issues involved with eating disorders, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has approved a bill to require insurance payments for all aspects of eating disorders. Castlewood Treatment Centers, headquartered in St. Louis, applauds the development, which addresses the mental health issues and physical risks associated with eating disorders. The National Eating Disorders Association says this is the first bill in the United States to define the range of treatment that insurance companies are mandated to cover. Association leaders say the most successful process of treatment includes medical care, mental health services, nutritional therapy and guidance of a professional team, including a doctor, therapist, psychiatrist and nutritionist. Supporters of the legislation, which will take effect in August, say the measure will help prevent premature dismissal from treatment for eating disorders. It requires the same coverage for eating disorders that is afforded to other mental disorders.
“We are grateful to the governor and to our state legislators for recognizing the importance of this issue,” said Nancy Albus, Castlewood CEO and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist. “We are proud of our state for setting the stage, and we hope that other states soon will follow. In too many cases, families who have loved ones who suffer from eating disorders have had to pay out of pocket when only partial treatment completed. This new law defines treatment to include the mental health issues involved and spells out the medically necessary treatment insurance companies must cover. Weight is not the sole determining factor in treatment, and it no longer will be the sole factor in the willingness of insurance companies to cover treatment.”
Castlewood’s professional treatment team sees this development as a step forward in educating the public about the physical and mental properties of eating disorders. Eating disorders, generally defined as psychological conditions that result in abnormal eating habits, affect millions of people of all ages throughout the United States. The most common are anorexia, bulimia and binge eating. In many cases, the result of no treatment, or inadequate treatment, is death, either from natural causes or by suicide. Castlewood, recognized nationwide as a leader in eating disorder treatment, emphasizes the importance of discovering the roots of the problem and healing all aspects of the behavior.
About Castlewood Treatment Centers
Castlewood Treatment Centers help people with eating disorders transform to healthier lives. Established in 2000 as the first residential treatment facility in Missouri, Castlewood’s licensed health care team is nationally recognized and has decades of combined experience in providing compassionate, professional and successful treatment for more than 1,000 men and women with eating disorders and related conditions. They offer individualized, supportive and comprehensive care in a home-like residential setting to help people toward recovery and a bright, healthy future. Castlewood facilities are located in St. Louis, Missouri; Monterey, California; and Birmingham, Alabama, and are accredited by The Joint Commission. St. Louis facilities also are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. For more information, visit http://castlewoodtc.com.
Deanna James, Castlewood Treatment Centers, http://castlewoodtc.com., +1 855.886.6098, [email protected]
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