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Legislation Needed: Help Congress to Act Now Show Your Support for Two Bills in Congress: The Eating Disorders Awareness, Education, and Prevention Act of 2005 (H.R. 49) The Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act (H.R. 1402) Congress and state legislatures have the power to help eating disorder sufferers and the public by passing laws that provide adequate health insurance coverage and awareness programs. While most people know about the Terri Schiavo case, the media kept relatively quiet the reports that her coma was directly related to her bulimia. While eating disorders and mental illness are too often considered taboo subjects, currently proposed legislation includes several bills that could lead to substantial and important benefits. Current Legislation The Eating Disorders Awareness, Education, and Prevention Act of 2005 (H.R. 49) was recently introduced in the House of Representatives. If passed, this bill would authorize the use of government funds for educational prevention programs. The passage of this bill would improve identification of students with eating disorders, increase awareness among parents and students, and provide prevention training for educators. It would also implement public service announcements, as well as authorize a study on the impact eating disorders have on educational advancement and achievement. Another bill, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act (H.R. 1402), was introduced in Congress two years ago. However, the legislation has still not passed. This bill was born as a result of another legislation, the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 (MPHA), a federal law that required mental health benefits to receive the same dollar amount as physical illness. The MPHA has been overstepped by many insurance companies that have found ways to place restrictions on coverage. Insurance providers may only cover a limited amount of treatment and many families are forced to pay out of pocket. The new legislation, H.R. 1402, would improve the quality of coverage provided to people suffering from mental illness and end mental health restrictions currently being placed by employers and insurance companies. How You Can Help The public and government officials are in great need of education from people who are knowledgeable about eating disorders, treatment and recovery. Everyone concerned with these issues can take personal responsibility for helping to pass these bills. Showing concern to your elected officials will result in attention and action. The Eating Disorders Coalition (www.eatingdisorderscoalition.org) requests that people send a letter, postcard, fax or email to their elected senators and representatives in Congress urging the support of these bills. Educate these government officials about the impact that eating disorders have had on your life. Let them know that eating disorders are preventable and treatable mental illnesses. If enough people show that the public cares about these subjects, better health care coverage will result. For the names of your state’s representatives and their contact information, go to www.house.gov/writerep. Senators are listed at www.senate.gov. This article was originally published in the Spring 2005 issue of “Eating Disorders Today: A Newsletter for Recovering Individuals and Their Loved-Ones” and is reprinted with permission from Gurze Books. To subscribe to this newsletter, go to www.gurze.net/site12_5_00/newsletteredt.htm).
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