Eating Disorder Treatment and Insurance Issues in California

For many clients, residential treatment is the most appropriate and effective level of care for treatment of their eating disorder and related conditions.

The American Psychiatric Association's Practice Guidelines include residential treatment as an essential step in the spectrum of treatment for eating disorders, falling between inpatient hospital care and outpatient care. Professionals involved in the treatment of eating disorder have produced concrete evidence that residential care treatment is optimal to prevent relapses and promote healing because it addresses both medical and psychological issues. Some insurers ignore this accepted standard of care, however, providing coverage only for hospitalization or outpatient care.

In order to obtain residential care, policyholders frequently must sue their health plan or insurer to pay for treatment. That's where we come in. We are one of only a few legal practices in the United States that will represent eating disorder patients denied health benefits for residential treatment.

We represent clients in litigation and are available to advise clients during the administrative appeals process. We also appeal cases to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals if necessary.

In addition, we fight for our clients in the legislative arena, appearing at administrative hearings before state insurance boards to inform lawmakers of standard of care issues surrounding eating disorders when crafting laws that govern insurance benefits.