Anna Westin Act of 2015

To amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to eating disorders, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Anna Westin Act of 2015 2. Table of contents The table of contents of this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title. Sec. 2. Table of contents. Sec. 3. Findings. Sec. 4. Definition. Sec. 5. Training and education. Sec. 6. Education and training for health professionals. Sec. 7. Education and training for school and higher education professionals. Sec. 8. Public service announcements. Sec. 9. Clarifying application of existing parity law. Sec. 10. Report by Federal Trade Commission. Sec. 11. Prohibition on new appropriations. 3. Findings The Congress finds the following: (1) Risk of death among individuals with anorexia nervosa is 18 times greater than their same age peers without anorexia. It is estimated that at least one person dies every 62 minutes from an eating disorder; at least 23 persons each day. (2) Health consequences such as osteoporosis (brittle bones), gastrointestinal complications, cardiac, and dental problems are significant health and financial burdens throughout life. (3) At lowest estimate, 14.5 million Americans suffer from eating disorders. One percent of adolescent boys and two percent of adolescent girls suffer from eating disorders; eating disorders account for at least four percent of all childhood hospitalizations. (4) Eating disorders are treatable biopsychosocial illnesses. There is a high rate of co-morbidity with other illnesses such as depression, substance abuse, or anxiety disorders. (5) Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by self-starvation, weight loss, fear of gaining weight and disturbances in the way in which one’s body weight or shape is experienced (body image disturbance). (6) Anorexia nervosa is associated with serious health consequences including heart failure, kidney failure, osteoporosis, and death. People who suffer anorexia nervosa are 57 times more likely to die of suicide than their peers. (7) Current estimates of the lifetime prevalence of bulimia nervosa are between 0.9 and 1.5 percent among women and between 0.1 and 0.5 percent among men. (8) Bulimia nervosa is associated with serious health consequences, including cardiac, gastrointestinal, and dental problems including irregular heartbeats, gastric rupture, peptic ulcer, tooth decay, and death. (9) Binge eating disorder is characterized by frequent episodes of uncontrolled overeating. Binge eating disorder is common: at lowest estimate, 3.5 percent of American women and 2.0 percent of American men will suffer from this disorder in their lifetime. (10) Binge eating is often associated with obesity, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, elevated triglyceride levels, increased risk of bowel, breast and reproductive cancers, increased risk of diabetes, and increased risk of arthritic damage to the joints. (11) Many suffer from some, but not all, of the symptoms of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder, which is referred to as other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED). Between 4 percent and 20 percent of young women practice unhealthy patterns of dieting, purging, and binge eating. (12) Eating disorders are more common in women, but they do occur in men. Rates of binge eating disorder are similar in females and males. (13) Academic evidence has demonstrated a connection between the use of very thin models in advertising and consumer attitudes toward a brand based on such advertising, as well as a material influence of the use of such models on consumer purchase intent, conduct, and reliance. (14) Eating disorders appear across all age groups, races, ethnicities and socioeconomic groups in the United States and are associated with substantial psychological problems, including depression, substance abuse, and suicide. For children 12 years of age and younger, hospitalizations for eating disorders increased by 119 percent between 1999 and 2006. 4. Definition In this Act, the term eating disorder Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5. Training and education Subject to section 11, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Office on Women’s Health of the Department of Health and Human Services and in consultation with the Secretary of Education, shall— (1) revise and then reinstate the BodyWise Handbook and related fact sheets and resource lists available on the public Internet site of the National Women’s Health Information Center sponsored by the Office on Women’s Health, to include— (A) updated findings and conclusions as needed; and (B) thorough information about eating disorders relating to males as well as females; (2) incorporate, as appropriate, information from such BodyWise Handbook and related facts sheets and resource lists into the curriculum of the BodyWorks obesity prevention program developed by the Office on Women’s Health and training modules used in such obesity prevention program; and (3) promote and make publicly available (whether through a public Internet site or other method that does not impose a fee on users) the BodyWise Handbook and related fact sheets and resource lists, as updated under paragraph (1), and the BodyWorks obesity prevention program, as updated under paragraph (2), including for purposes of educating universities and nonprofit entities on eating disorders. 6. Education and training for health professionals (a) In general Subject to section 11, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, shall award grants to eligible entities to integrate training into existing curricula for primary care physicians, other licensed or certified health and mental health professionals, and public health professionals that may include— (1) early intervention and identification of eating disorders; (2) levels of treatment (including family-based treatment, in-patient, residential, partial hospitalization programming, intensive outpatient and outpatient); (3) how to properly refer patients to treatment; (4) steps to aid in the prevention of the development of eating disordered behaviors; and (5) how to treat individuals with eating disorders. (b) Application An entity that desires a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including a plan for the use of funds that may be awarded and an evaluation of the training that will be provided. (c) Use of funds An entity that receives a grant under this section shall use the funds made available through such grant to— (1) use a training program containing evidence-based findings, promising emerging best practices, or recommendations that pertain to the identification, early intervention, prevention of the development of eating disordered behaviors, and treatment of eating disorders to conduct educational training and conferences, including Internet-based courses and teleconferences, on— (A) how to help prevent the development of eating disordered behaviors, identify, intervene early, and appropriately and adequately treat eating disordered patients; (B) how to identify individuals with eating disorders, and those who are at risk for suffering from eating disorders and, therefore, at risk for related severe medical and mental health conditions; (C) how to conduct a comprehensive assessment of individual and familial health risk factors; and (D) how to conduct a comprehensive assessment of a treatment plan; and (2) evaluate and report to the Secretary on the effectiveness of the training provided by such entity in increasing knowledge and changing attitudes and behaviors of trainees. 7. Education and training for school and higher education professionals (a) Grants (1) Authorization Subject to section 11, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, shall award grants to eligible entities— (A) to conduct educational seminars for school personnel on eating disorders early identification, intervention, and prevention of behaviors that are often associated with the development of eating disordered behaviors; and (B) to make resources available to individuals affected by eating disorders. (2) Educational seminars As a condition on the receipt of a grant under this subsection, an eligible entity shall agree to conduct educational seminars under paragraph (1)(A), taking into consideration educational materials made available through the BodyWise eating disorder initiative of the Department of Health and Human Services and relevant research on eating disorders. (3) Eligible entity In this subsection, the term eligible entity 25 U.S.C. 450b 8. Public service announcements (a) In general Subject to section 11, the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health shall conduct a program of public service announcements to educate the public on— (1) the types of eating disorders; (2) the seriousness of eating disorders (including prevalence, comorbidities, and physical and mental health consequences); (3) how to identify, intervene, refer for treatment, and help prevent behaviors that often lead to the development of eating disordered behaviors; (4) discrimination and bullying based on body size; (5) the effects of media on self esteem and body image; and (6) the signs and symptoms of eating disorders. (b) Collaboration The Director of the National Institute of Mental Health shall conduct the program under subsection (a) in collaboration with— (1) Centers of Excellence; and (2) community-based national nonprofit resources that support individuals affected by eating disorders and work to prevent eating disorders and address body image and weight issues. 9. Clarifying application of existing parity law (a) PHSA Section 2726 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300gg–26 (1) in subsection (a)(3), by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (C) Treatment of permanent exclusions under mental health and substance use disorder benefits A group health plan or health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage to which subparagraph (A) applies shall be considered in violation of subparagraph (A)(ii) if the mental health or substance use disorder benefits under such plan or coverage provides for a permanent exclusion from such benefits for a particular condition or disorder. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (f) Residential treatment For purposes of this section, mental health and substance use disorder benefits include residential treatment. . (b) ERISA Section 712 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ( 29 U.S.C. 1185a (1) in subsection (a)(3), by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (C) Treatment of permanent exclusions under mental health and substance use disorder benefits A group health plan (or health insurance coverage offered in connection with such a plan) to which subparagraph (A) applies shall be considered in violation of subparagraph (A)(ii) if the mental health or substance use disorder benefits under such plan (or coverage) provides for a permanent exclusion from such benefits for a particular condition or disorder. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (h) Residential treatment For purposes of this section, mental health and substance use disorder benefits include residential treatment. . (c) IRC Section 9812 26 U.S.C. 9812 (1) in subsection (a)(3), by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (C) Treatment of permanent exclusions under mental health and substance use disorder benefits A group health plan to which subparagraph (A) applies shall be considered in violation of subparagraph (A)(ii) if the mental health or substance use disorder benefits under such plan provides for a permanent exclusion from such benefits for a particular condition or disorder. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (f) Residential treatment For purposes of this section, mental health and substance use disorder benefits include residential treatment. . (d) Limitation Nothing in this section or the amendments made by this section shall be construed as adding or expanding the scope of mental health or addiction services included under section 2726 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300gg–26 29 U.S.C. 1185a section 9812 26 U.S.C. 9812 10. Report by Federal Trade Commission (a) In general Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Federal Trade Commission shall submit to Congress a report that contains— (1) a strategy to reduce the use, in advertising and other media for the promotion of commercial products, of images that have been altered to materially change the physical characteristics of the faces and bodies of the individuals depicted; and (2) recommendations for an appropriate, risk-based regulatory framework with respect to such use. (b) Input of External Stakeholders and Experts In preparing the report required under subsection (a), the Federal Trade Commission shall solicit input from external stakeholders and experts on the strategy and recommendations required to be included in such report. The Commission, in consultation with the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health and the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, shall ensure that input is obtained from an appropriate number of stakeholders and experts and, to the extent practicable, from stakeholders and experts that are geographically and culturally diverse and that include stakeholders and experts from the physical and mental health, business, and consumer advocacy communities. 11. Prohibition on new appropriations No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act or the amendments made by this Act. This Act and such amendments shall be carried out using amounts otherwise made available for such purposes.

Summary: Anna Westin Act of 2015 This bill requires the Office on Women's Health of the Department of Health and Human Services to revise, promote, and make freely available the BodyWise Handbook and BodyWorks obesity prevention program. The handbook must include information about eating disorders relating to males as well as females. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration must award grants: (1) to integrate training on eating disorders into existing curricula for health, mental health, and public health professionals; and (2) to states, Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and educational institutions for seminars for school personnel on eating disorders and to make resources available to individuals affected by eating disorders. The National Institute of Mental Health must make public service announcements on eating disorders. This bill amends the Public Health Service Act, Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), and Internal Revenue Code to prohibit health insurance coverage from permanently excluding a particular condition from mental health or substance use disorder benefits. Mental health and substance use disorder benefits include residential treatment. The Federal Trade Commission must submit to Congress a report that contains a strategy and recommendations to reduce the use in advertising of images that have been altered to change the physical characteristics of the individuals depicted.