Bill aims to improve regulations at Colorado eating disorder care centers

Carly Moore
·2 min read
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DENVER (KDVR) — A new bill that is under consideration in the state Senate aims to create a higher standard of care for eating disorder care facilities in Colorado.

This is in light of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.

Nearly one in 10 Americans will have an eating disorder in their lifetime. Experts say eating disorders have one of the highest mortality rates of any mental illness, and without treatment, up to 20% of people with eating disorders will lose their lives.

Senate Bill 24-117 aims to protect patients and improve treatment outcomes in Colorado’s eating disorder care centers. It is sponsored by Sen. Lisa Cutter (D-Littleton) and Rep. Chris deGruy Kennedy (D-Lakewood).

Many might not think that eating disorders and mental health go hand-in-hand, but experts at Mental Health Colorado said that’s part of the problem.

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Mental Health Colorado said an eating disorder is a processing condition, especially body dysmorphia where there is a disconnect between the ability to perceive reality and between eating for health or fuel and body image.

“When you’re starving, your brain changes your thinking, gets rigid, distorted, obsessed, paranoid, and hopeless. This leads to multiple traumatizing procedures aimed at protecting critically ill patients from themselves,” said Erin Harrop, a former anorexia patient who is now a professor at the University of Denver.

Despite Colorado being a national hub for eating disorder treatments, proponents said the state’s eating disorder facilities lack the regulations needed to ensure patient safety and high-quality care.

The bill asks to change how a facility treats its patients and add more cultural sensitivity.
It would prevent facilities from using practices like forced feeding tubes and isolation, and it would also add standards for patient privacy during weigh-ins and bathroom use.

“They’ve been traumatized by things like requirements around what one is wearing or not wearing or the weighing-in requirements,” said Vincent Atchity with Mental Health Colorado. “Requirements around using the restroom in the presence of somebody.”

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“Patients often feel dehumanized, coerced, overpowered and degraded. For patients with trauma histories, which is most of us, this can trigger nightmares, self-harm, and lead us to avoid seeking help,” said Harrop.

“We share the goal of the authors and sponsors of this bill: ensuring safe, effective care for people with eating disorders in Colorado. The elements of this bill are in line with our current practices and standards of care. We are highly regulated by and partner closely with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and The Joint Commission, nationally regarded as the gold standard of accreditation. If this bill passes, we will welcome a deeper partnership with the Behavioral Health Administration as well,” said Anne Marie O’Melia, chief clinical and quality officer with the Eating Recovery Center.

The bill passed on a six to three vote and now heads to the full Senate for a vote.

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