Protections For People With An Eating Disorder

The bill prohibits certain health benefit plans or the state medical assistance program from utilizing the body mass index, ideal body weight, or any other standard requiring an achieved weight when determining medical necessity criteria or appropriate level of care for an individual with a diagnosed eating disorder. The prohibition does not apply when determining medical necessity or the appropriate level of care for an individual diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, restricting subtype; however, body mass index, ideal body weight, or any other standard requiring an achieved body weight must not be the determining factor when assessing medical necessity or the appropriate level of care for an individual diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, restricting subtype.

The bill prohibits a retail establishment from selling, transferring, or otherwise furnishing dietary supplements for weight loss or over-the-counter diet pills to any individual under 18 years of age without a prescription .The bill requires the behavioral health administration (BHA) to promulgate rules concerning forced feeding tubes for individuals with an eating disorder.No later than July 1, 2024, the bill requires the BHA to require all eating disorder treatment and recovery facilities to hold an appropriate designation based on the level of care the facility provides.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)