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On July 11 Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) and Jackie Walorski (IN-02) introduced the Nutrition Counseling Aiding Recovery for Eating Disorders (CARE) Act to provide greater access to necessary care for the senior population struggling with eating disorders. The legislation will ensure that medical nutrition therapy is covered by Medicare for beneficiaries diagnosed with eating disorders. Rep. Chu issued the following statement:
“Eating disorders are often thought of as a young person’s disease, but in fact it’s estimated that between 3-4% of Medicare beneficiaries have an eating disorder. When left untreated, eating disorders in this population can lead to heart failure, kidney failure, diabetes, hypoglycemia, and more. We know this can be prevented with treatment and therapy, but only if treatment and therapy are made accessible to seniors. That is why I’m proud to lead the Nutrition CARE Act to require Medicare to cover medical nutrition therapy for beneficiaries diagnosed with an eating disorder.”
The Nutrition CARE Act is endorsed by: The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness, Project Heal, International Federation for Eating Disorder Dietitians, Academy for Eating Disorders, The Donahue Foundation, West Virginia University Disordered Eating Center of Charleston, Multi-Service Eating Disorders Association, The Emily Program, Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action, Monte Nido & Affiliates, Wrobel & Smith, PLLP, National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Related Disorders, Reasons Eating Disorder Center, Focus Treatment Centers, National Eating Disorders Association, The Residential Eating Disorders Consortium, Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders (STRIPED), and International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals, Alaska Chapter.
