yip
05-05-2004, 01:18 PM
Move from A/B Recovery to Current Events
Dear fishies,
Although my name may seem unfamiliar since I rarley post, I thought that the following press release might be interesting to all of you, especially those in NY. I attended and spoke at the press conference this morning with the Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno. SHortly thereafter, the Senate passed the bill. Now it is on to the Assembly. I will be meeting with Assembly leaders next week to hepl encourage them to pass this bill. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!!!
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Wednesday, May ****, ****************
http://www.senate.state.ny.us
SENATE PASSES EATING DISORDER LEGISLATION
Develops Comprehensive Care Centers for Eating Disorders
The New York State Senate today passed legislation (S. ****************-A) to establish comprehensive care centers to provide individualized, comprehensive and integrated plans of care for those suffering from Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and binge eating disorders.
"Eating disorders are serious health conditions that can be both physically and emotionally destructive and in most cases these diseases are potentially life threatening," said Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno (R-C, Brunswick). "The Senate has researched this issue extensively, hosting roundtables and meetings with medical professionals to examine the problem and focus on effective treatments. This legislation is critical for people with eating disorders because these conditions involve a wide range of needs and professional disciplines and a comprehensive system of care is our answer."
"Eating disorders have become an epidemic and they are creating a war within our culture and destroying the minds, bodies and hearts of young American people filled with promise and talent," said Jenny Lauren, Anorexia survivor and author. "I cannot stress how much room there is for the development of more care centers through out all the states and for much more effective treatment models so those suffering and their families can find some solace, relief and hope."
"The Senate's passage of the Comprehensive Care Centers for Eating Disorders legislation, for the first time makes available throughout the entire state, the expertise to treat those suffering from these illnesses who often face a lifetime battle," said Senator Kemp Hannon (R-C, Garden City), Chairman of the Senate Health Committee.
"The bill will facilitate more effective, comprehensive and coordinated treatment of eating disorders, and the potential for saving health care dollars and reducing pressure on health insurance costs is significant," said Senator James Seward (R-C-I, Oneonta), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Insurance. "It's important to understand that this is not a new expense for our health insurance policies; rather, it will result in more cost effective, local treatment of those with eating disorders."
Eating disorders are a growing problem in the United States, affecting between **** and ******** million individuals each year. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), one in every ************ women suffers from anorexia and the mortality rate among people with the disease is estimated to be about ******** times higher than the average death rate due to all other causes of death for females aged ******** to ******** in the general population.
The cost of treating an individual with an eating disorder can be extraordinary. Currently, there is no generally accessible system in New York for the comprehensive and integrated treatment of eating disorder patients, nor is there a general mechanism for community education, prevention and coordinated research activities.
This legislation authorizes the State Commissioner of Health to identify "Comprehensive Care Centers (of excellence) for Eating Disorders," to treat those suffering from eating disorders. The legislation would require that the centers provide individual health and psychosocial services, inpatient medical and surgical treatment, rehabilitation and psychiatric care, residential treatment, case management, and community education including information and referral services and prevention and research activities.
Additionally, the bill requires insurers to cover treatments provided by state-identified eating disorder centers and to make flexible reimbursement arrangements between the insurer and the comprehensive care centers.
The bill also establishes a State grant program to facilitate the development and operation of comprehensive care centers which the State Commissioner of Health would issue to the centers. A special State account would be established for the funds, which any source may contribute to, and New York State's HCRA public health and mental health allocations of $**** million would be deposited into the Eating Disorder grant program account for community education, prevention and research.
"On behalf of the National Eating Disorders Association, we congratulate Senator Bruno and the Senate for their vision and leadership to help the millions suffering from eating disorders," said Lynn Grefe, CEO, National Eating Disorders Association. "This has been a 'hidden epidemic' in our state - and in the nation - and this legislation is a critical step for getting people to the care they so desperately need. Men and women, of all ages, have been suffering without having the resources or access to treatment for this lethal, yet treatable disease. This is a great day and we look forward to the passage of this important legislation that will help so many."
"As a medical doctor and as the President of the HEED Foundation, I am pleased with the Senate's passage of the Comprehensive Care Centers for Eating Disorders Legislation," said Dr. Ira M. Sacker, President/Medical Director, Helping End Eating Disorders (HEED). "I know the difficulties patients have found in the past in finding effective, insurance covered treatment. This life saving legislation will have a great impact on the accessibility and quality of treatment and give patients hope."
"Recovery from an eating disorder requires a strong collaboration between the patient and each member of the health care team," said Dr. Sharon Alger-Mayer, Albany Medical Center Clinical Nutrition Program. "Nutritional, medical and psychological needs must be identified and incorporated into a comprehensive treatment plan, and that's exactly what this legislation does. A safe, supportive environment, along with a skilled health care team, encourages trust and the confidence necessary for the patient to make the changes necessary for recovery and healing."
"Treatment of eating disorders, which encompasses psychological and physical care, continues to evolve," said Paul Macielak, President of the New York Health Plan Association. "Centers of Excellence represent the best setting for ensuring state of the art evidence-based medicine for those seeking treatment."
"These are services that we do already cover," said Dr. John Collins, Chief Medical Director, Capital District Physicians Health Plan. "Having additional availability of Centers of Excellence in New York which commit to evidence based care will be helpful."
"This is exciting news. What really makes this bill special is the fact that it is
Comprehensive," said Shelly VanSlyke, Health Educator, Skidmore College. "It is not addressing parts of this issue, but the issue as a whole, which is crucial not only to the treatment of individuals, but for information and education to their families as well. It is a giant leap in the right direction."
"This is very exciting to hear that the Senate is moving forward with this legislation because this has been a problem across the country for many years," said Robert Greenbaum, Ph.D., CEO, Four Winds Hospital in Saratoga, NY. "I would like to commend Senator Bruno for his efforts, he has consulted with me and with many other providers in order to understand and develop the best possible treatment for people suffering with eating disorders. Families that have struggled with these diseases will be happy to see that New York will now maintain a system of care because there has never been a benefit to sending patients out of state for treatment."
According to the National Mental Illness Screening Project (NMISP), while Americans spend over $******** billion on dieting and diet-related products each year, ********% of American women are still dissatisfied with their appearance and in fact, one in eight high school females have used vomiting as a "diet aid."
The bill was sent to the Assembly.
####
Dear fishies,
Although my name may seem unfamiliar since I rarley post, I thought that the following press release might be interesting to all of you, especially those in NY. I attended and spoke at the press conference this morning with the Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno. SHortly thereafter, the Senate passed the bill. Now it is on to the Assembly. I will be meeting with Assembly leaders next week to hepl encourage them to pass this bill. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!!!
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Wednesday, May ****, ****************
http://www.senate.state.ny.us
SENATE PASSES EATING DISORDER LEGISLATION
Develops Comprehensive Care Centers for Eating Disorders
The New York State Senate today passed legislation (S. ****************-A) to establish comprehensive care centers to provide individualized, comprehensive and integrated plans of care for those suffering from Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and binge eating disorders.
"Eating disorders are serious health conditions that can be both physically and emotionally destructive and in most cases these diseases are potentially life threatening," said Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno (R-C, Brunswick). "The Senate has researched this issue extensively, hosting roundtables and meetings with medical professionals to examine the problem and focus on effective treatments. This legislation is critical for people with eating disorders because these conditions involve a wide range of needs and professional disciplines and a comprehensive system of care is our answer."
"Eating disorders have become an epidemic and they are creating a war within our culture and destroying the minds, bodies and hearts of young American people filled with promise and talent," said Jenny Lauren, Anorexia survivor and author. "I cannot stress how much room there is for the development of more care centers through out all the states and for much more effective treatment models so those suffering and their families can find some solace, relief and hope."
"The Senate's passage of the Comprehensive Care Centers for Eating Disorders legislation, for the first time makes available throughout the entire state, the expertise to treat those suffering from these illnesses who often face a lifetime battle," said Senator Kemp Hannon (R-C, Garden City), Chairman of the Senate Health Committee.
"The bill will facilitate more effective, comprehensive and coordinated treatment of eating disorders, and the potential for saving health care dollars and reducing pressure on health insurance costs is significant," said Senator James Seward (R-C-I, Oneonta), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Insurance. "It's important to understand that this is not a new expense for our health insurance policies; rather, it will result in more cost effective, local treatment of those with eating disorders."
Eating disorders are a growing problem in the United States, affecting between **** and ******** million individuals each year. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), one in every ************ women suffers from anorexia and the mortality rate among people with the disease is estimated to be about ******** times higher than the average death rate due to all other causes of death for females aged ******** to ******** in the general population.
The cost of treating an individual with an eating disorder can be extraordinary. Currently, there is no generally accessible system in New York for the comprehensive and integrated treatment of eating disorder patients, nor is there a general mechanism for community education, prevention and coordinated research activities.
This legislation authorizes the State Commissioner of Health to identify "Comprehensive Care Centers (of excellence) for Eating Disorders," to treat those suffering from eating disorders. The legislation would require that the centers provide individual health and psychosocial services, inpatient medical and surgical treatment, rehabilitation and psychiatric care, residential treatment, case management, and community education including information and referral services and prevention and research activities.
Additionally, the bill requires insurers to cover treatments provided by state-identified eating disorder centers and to make flexible reimbursement arrangements between the insurer and the comprehensive care centers.
The bill also establishes a State grant program to facilitate the development and operation of comprehensive care centers which the State Commissioner of Health would issue to the centers. A special State account would be established for the funds, which any source may contribute to, and New York State's HCRA public health and mental health allocations of $**** million would be deposited into the Eating Disorder grant program account for community education, prevention and research.
"On behalf of the National Eating Disorders Association, we congratulate Senator Bruno and the Senate for their vision and leadership to help the millions suffering from eating disorders," said Lynn Grefe, CEO, National Eating Disorders Association. "This has been a 'hidden epidemic' in our state - and in the nation - and this legislation is a critical step for getting people to the care they so desperately need. Men and women, of all ages, have been suffering without having the resources or access to treatment for this lethal, yet treatable disease. This is a great day and we look forward to the passage of this important legislation that will help so many."
"As a medical doctor and as the President of the HEED Foundation, I am pleased with the Senate's passage of the Comprehensive Care Centers for Eating Disorders Legislation," said Dr. Ira M. Sacker, President/Medical Director, Helping End Eating Disorders (HEED). "I know the difficulties patients have found in the past in finding effective, insurance covered treatment. This life saving legislation will have a great impact on the accessibility and quality of treatment and give patients hope."
"Recovery from an eating disorder requires a strong collaboration between the patient and each member of the health care team," said Dr. Sharon Alger-Mayer, Albany Medical Center Clinical Nutrition Program. "Nutritional, medical and psychological needs must be identified and incorporated into a comprehensive treatment plan, and that's exactly what this legislation does. A safe, supportive environment, along with a skilled health care team, encourages trust and the confidence necessary for the patient to make the changes necessary for recovery and healing."
"Treatment of eating disorders, which encompasses psychological and physical care, continues to evolve," said Paul Macielak, President of the New York Health Plan Association. "Centers of Excellence represent the best setting for ensuring state of the art evidence-based medicine for those seeking treatment."
"These are services that we do already cover," said Dr. John Collins, Chief Medical Director, Capital District Physicians Health Plan. "Having additional availability of Centers of Excellence in New York which commit to evidence based care will be helpful."
"This is exciting news. What really makes this bill special is the fact that it is
Comprehensive," said Shelly VanSlyke, Health Educator, Skidmore College. "It is not addressing parts of this issue, but the issue as a whole, which is crucial not only to the treatment of individuals, but for information and education to their families as well. It is a giant leap in the right direction."
"This is very exciting to hear that the Senate is moving forward with this legislation because this has been a problem across the country for many years," said Robert Greenbaum, Ph.D., CEO, Four Winds Hospital in Saratoga, NY. "I would like to commend Senator Bruno for his efforts, he has consulted with me and with many other providers in order to understand and develop the best possible treatment for people suffering with eating disorders. Families that have struggled with these diseases will be happy to see that New York will now maintain a system of care because there has never been a benefit to sending patients out of state for treatment."
According to the National Mental Illness Screening Project (NMISP), while Americans spend over $******** billion on dieting and diet-related products each year, ********% of American women are still dissatisfied with their appearance and in fact, one in eight high school females have used vomiting as a "diet aid."
The bill was sent to the Assembly.
####