Doctor warns a law designed to expand eating disorder treatments is creating a barrier to care

February 11, 2025

Featuring:
Elizabeth Wassenaar, MS, MD, DFAPA, CEDS-C

Denver 9News featured Dr. Elizabeth Wassenaar in this segment about a Colorado law that went into effect last year, preventing a person's BMI from determining care or treatment for their eating disorder. The bill was intended to increase access to eating disorder treatment; however, doctors are finding it's making it harder for patients to get the care they need. In this segment, Dr. Wassenaar notes that some insurers are using this new law to deny the level of treatment that a patient may need.

DENVER — A law designed to help more people access eating disorder treatment may be doing the opposite.

Last year, a Colorado state law took effect preventing a person's body mass index from determining their level of care or treatment. Doctors say that's making it even harder for people to get the treatment they need.

"It has been really frustrating," said Dr. Elizabeth Wassenaar, Regional Medical Director for the Mountain and West regions at Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center.

People of every age, gender and shape deal with eating disorders. Wassenaar said care and treatment should be accessible to all.

"On face value, I 100% agree with this legislation," Wassenaar said. "I absolutely want to see every person who needs eating disorder treatment be able to access it. And I never want to see someone be discriminated against because of the size of their body, especially when it comes to receiving care for their eating disorder.”

Before this new law, it was hard for larger people to find care and get insurance to cover it.

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