Bill Overview
Title: Anna Westin Legacy Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to maintain the National Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders (NCEED). The bill specifies required activities for NCEED, including providing training for frontline health care providers and other professionals.
Sponsors: Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-6]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals worldwide affected by eating disorders
Estimated Size: 28000000
- Eating disorders affect individuals across the globe, regardless of age, gender, or background.
- According to the International Journal of Eating Disorders, about 9% of the population is affected by eating disorders worldwide.
- This bill will potentially impact everyone who struggles with eating disorders by improving education and resources available to healthcare providers.
Reasoning
- Eating disorders are prevalent across a wide range of age groups and demographics, making it vital to include a diverse sample in our interviews.
- The budget of $50,000,000 over 10 years suggests a long-term impact more feasible for those already diagnosed or at high risk.
- Improving training for healthcare providers will mostly benefit those who interact with these professionals, like adolescents and young adults.
- The variability in the course of different eating disorders means some individuals might experience immediate to long-term benefits, especially those receiving timely diagnoses as a result of better-trained professionals.
- Differential impact might be seen based on access to healthcare; individuals in rural areas or with less access might see less immediate benefit despite long-term potential.
- Some individuals without significant issues might show no change, as their treatment needs or demands aren't directly aligned with eating disorder-specific training.
Simulated Interviews
High school student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 16 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've been struggling to find consistent support due to a lack of local specialists. More trained professionals would really help.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Software engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's hard finding professionals who understand eating disorders in adults, especially men. More training sounds like it would help.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Fashion model (New York, NY)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Getting more specialized help might make a big difference, but I doubt it'll change the pressures from work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Farmer (Rural Kansas)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’m not sure this will change much next year, but down the line, more informed doctors might notice problems sooner.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Middle school student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 12 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If my doctor gets better training, maybe they can help me understand and manage my eating disorder better.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 7 |
College student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Adjusting healthcare to include understanding of diverse experiences would really help.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Homemaker (Houston, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I want my daughter to have access to well-informed care before things get more severe.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Personal trainer (Miami, FL)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Being in the fitness industry, I'd appreciate having access to better-educated psychologists on these issues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Registered dietitian (Denver, CO)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This will help us healthcare providers do our jobs better and improve client outcomes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Psychologist specializing in anxiety (Boston, MA)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The structured training will enhance my ability to address co-existing disorders more effectively.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 9 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 2: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 3: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 5: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 10: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 100: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Key Considerations
- Training healthcare professionals is a long-term investment in public health that may not show immediate financial returns but can greatly improve diagnosis and treatment outcomes.
- Assessing the potential downstream savings in healthcare and social costs requires robust tracking and analysis.
- The effects on GDP and tax revenues are largely speculative and contingent upon the broad applicability and success of the training programs.