In the United States, as many as 10 million females and one million males are fighting a life and death battle with anorexia or bulimia, according to the National Eating Disorders Association. Based on those national statistics, there are currently more than 400,000 females and more than 40,000 males in the state of Illinois suffering from an eating disorder.

And so that I why I was both excited and perplexed this week when the Illinois House and Senate passed House Bill 1432, many of those who silently suffer from eating disorders now have a fighting chance of recovery from the disease as healthcare benefits are now available. Finally, the days of eating disorders not being recognized as an illness are closer to an end – at least in Illinois — as House Bill 1432 goes into law immediately, strengthening the Illinois mental health insurance parity law by providing fair and equal insurance coverage for those suffering from anorexia nervosa and bulimia.

So why was I perplexed?  Because there are only 16 other states that have passed similar legislation.  If the government is going to aid the other forms of mental issues, eating disorders need to be included!

Timberline Knolls, one of the country’s leading residential treatment facilities for eating disorders, applauded both the Illinois State Senate and House of Representatives for their override of Governor Rod Blagojevich’s amendatory veto that could have delayed life-saving treatment for many suffering from eating disorders in the state of Illinois.

“We congratulate the members of our State Senate and House who realized the urgency of passing House Bill 1432 into law as fast as possible,” said Kimberly Dennis, M.D., medical director at Timberline Knolls, which is located just outside of Chicago in Lemont. “This bill is a major step forward in eliminating discriminatory barriers that limit access to healthcare for those suffering from an eating disorder.”

James Gresham, President and CEO of Timberline Knolls, hopes that adding anorexia and bulimia to the state’s mental health parity law will encourage those suffering to seek treatment. “We hope the actions of the Illinois State Senate and House of Representatives will end the suffering of many dealing with eating disorders in our state,” said Gresham. “This new legislation will make treatment available to many in need and give them hope that recovery is possible.”

According to Dr. Dennis, eating disorders are biologically based psychiatric illnesses similar to illnesses that have been previously covered by the Illinois mental health parity law. “It is very significant that the Illinois State Senate and House of Representatives recognized the importance of providing equal medical coverage to those suffering from eating disorders,” said Dr. Dennis. “Anorexia and bulimia are real and very dangerous illnesses and without proper treatment, are often deadly.”

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