Joyce Muller, president of NAIRO, commented on the role of independent review organizations in ensuring that eating disorder patients have access to quality care and managing associated costs: "The average cost of treating a patient with anorexia to health insurers exceeds $6,000 a year. ... By identifying and providing the appropriate level of care initially, health plans can reduce the cost of managing these mental health problems. IRO specialty reviews provide a mechanism to assure that enrollees are getting the appropriate level of care, when they need it and for the proper length of time."
Determining the appropriate length of treatment for an individual struggling with an eating disorder can be a difficult task. In addition, care for eating disorders requires long-term, multi-dimensional treatment to address the psychological, behavioral, physical, and nutritional needs of the patient.
Dr. Barbara Center, an eating disorders specialist and IRO-employed reviewer, explained, "Eating disorders require long-term counseling or psychotherapy linked with careful attention to medical and nutritional needs. ... Determining the level of care, its appropriateness and duration are best determined by an eating disorder specialist who understands the approaches various treatment centers take."
(Source: prnewswire.com)
Labels: eating disorder, cost
Posted By: Aspen Education Group