Our Opinion: Enlightened approach now includes eating disorders

A new law to require insurance coverage for eating disorders marks another step in Missouri's enlightened approach to mental health issues.

Gov. Jay Nixon recently signed a bill to require health insurers to cover "medically necessary" mental and physical treatment of eating disorders provided by licensed professionals.

Some medical issues - including binge eating, anorexia and other eating disorders - have both physical and mental components. Although existing state law required insurers to cover treatments for both, coverage for patients with eating disorders sometimes was ended based solely on weight.

The new law is designed to specify disorders and define treatment that must be covered by insurers.

The "medically necessary" provision represents a compromise between legislators and insurers, who opposed the change for fear it would drive up insurance costs, according to Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg and bill sponsor.

Although financial impact has not been analyzed, a Missouri Insurance Coaltion lobbyist told the Associated Press he envisioned any increased cost would be minimal.

The new law on eating disorders extends a spectrum of mental health initiatives, including creation of mental health liaisons to work with law enforcement and funding for construction of a new state mental health hospital in Fulton.

These advances are a result of a shared effort by mental health advocates, Nixon, state lawmakers and the staff at the Missouri Department of Mental Health, headed by Keith Schafer, who retired recently after a combined 16 years of service as director.

For too long, initiatives to address mental health issues have languished.

Missouri not only is taking action, it is demonstrating leadership; professionals who specialize in eating disorders say Missouri's new law is the first of its kind nationwide.

We applaud the state's efforts to pursue an enlightened approach to complex mental health issues, and to set an example for other states to emulate.