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Bipartisan Senators Introduce Nutrition CARE Act Companion Legislation

Effort Intended to Improve Access to Treatment for Seniors and Persons With Disabilities on Medicare

The Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action celebrates the introduction of the bipartisan Senate companion legislation of the Nutrition Counseling Aiding Recovery for Eating Disorders (Nutrition CARE) Act of 2019 led by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH).

Eating disorders affect 3% to 4% of the senior population and approximately 6% of females and 3% of males with disabilities. Eating disorders for older Americans and Americans with disabilities are particularly serious, given the likelihood of co-occurring chronic conditions that further compromise an individual’s health and well-being. Despite the prevalence of eating disorders within these populations, Medicare excludes coverage for outpatient nutrition counseling—a core component of comprehensive treatment for eating disorders.

“Eating disorders tend to be discussed in the context of young people, but that misses the full extent of the problem,” Hassan says. “My bipartisan bill with Senator Murkowski would help ensure that seniors and people living with disabilities—both populations who often face other health challenges in addition to eating disorders—receive the comprehensive care that they need.”

The Nutrition CARE Act of 2019 ensures that every core component of treatment for eating disorders, including medical nutrition therapy, is covered by Medicare. “This is a critical validation for the work that is performed by dietitians who are specialized medical nutrition therapists,” says Grace Ray Schumacher, president of the Alaska Chapter of the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals, an Alaska Eating Disorders Alliance board member, and representative for the International Federation of Eating Disorder Dietitians.

“Although eating disorders are often perceived as solely impacting teens and young adults, they also impact aging Americans, which can further complicate existing chronic disorders or diseases. These issues are psychologically rooted, but they can take a serious long-term toll on the body. The Alaska Psychological Association acknowledges that this is among Alaska’s most pressing mental illness issues, but our state is unfortunately lacking the resources needed for treatment,” Murkowski says. “Addressing these complex illnesses cannot be ‘one size fits all.’ Effective treatment requires a comprehensive approach, tailored to fit each unique case that is encountered. For Alaskans that rely on Medicare that are struggling with an eating disorder, this legislation will expand access to medical nutrition therapy, a key component of outpatient treatment, which prioritizes customized diets and meal plans based on each patient’s physical, dietary, and psychosocial history.”

The Senators join their colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives who support the House version of the Nutrition CARE Act (H.R. 3711) led by Representatives Judy Chu (D-CA-27) and Jackie Walorski (R-IN-02) and supported by Representatives Tony Cardenas (D-CA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Susie Lee (D-NV), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Harley Rouda (D-CA), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Don Young (R-AK-AL), Nannette Diaz Barragan (D-CA-44), Chris Collins (R-NY-27), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE-AL), and Ted Deutch (D-FL-22).

“The Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action applauds the leadership of Senators Murkowski and Hassan in leading the Nutrition CARE Act,” says Chase Bannister, MDIV, MSW, LCSW, CEDS, board president of the Eating Disorders Coalition. “The formal Senate introduction of this critical piece of legislation moves our community one step closer toward making comprehensive coverage for eating disorders treatment a reality for the millions of Americans affected by this illness.”

“I welcome the introduction of the Nutrition Care Act by Senator Hassan because it expands access to medical nutrition therapy for Medicare beneficiaries suffering from eating disorders,” says Seda Ebrahimi, PhD, founder and director of the Cambridge Eating Disorder Center, which operates centers in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Concord, New Hampshire. “It provides a much-needed component toward the effective treatment of eating disorders in the elderly.”

Eating disorders affect 30 million Americans during their lifetime and have the second highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness, behind only opioid abuse. These disorders do not discriminate, and affect people of all genders, ages, sizes, sexual orientations, ethnicities, and socioeconomic statuses. Eating disorders are complex, biologically based illnesses that include the specific disorders of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, and other specified feeding or eating disorders as recognized by the American Psychiatric Association’s DSM-5. With interventions at the appropriate durations and levels of care, eating disorders can be successfully treated to recovery.

— Source: Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action