Bill Overview
Title: Anna Westin Legacy Act
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: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Target Audience
Population: People affected by or at risk of eating disorders
Estimated Size: 28800000
- Eating disorders affect roughly 9% of the global population, according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD).
- Given the presence of around 7.9 billion people globally as of 2021, this population could be approximately 700 million individuals.
- Eating disorders can affect people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds.
- Training frontline health care providers and other professionals implies that potentially all individuals affected by or at risk of developing eating disorders globally could benefit from improved services.
Reasoning
- The Anna Westin Legacy Act targets individuals affected by or at risk of developing eating disorders in the U.S., which is approximately 28.8 million people.
- Training healthcare providers could improve early detection and treatment, impacting both individuals with current disorders and those at risk.
- Budget constraints mean that initial impacts may be limited but could grow over time as more professionals are trained and resources are better utilized.
- We need to ensure a variety of perspectives, including those who may not experience a direct impact, given that eating disorders span across demographics and regions.
Simulated Interviews
High School Student (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 16 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Training more healthcare providers could help avoid relapses by providing better support in school and at home.
- If teachers and counselors are more aware of warning signs, I might have gotten help sooner.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Graduate Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 23 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased training for healthcare providers could ease my fears of being misunderstood or judged.
- Knowing that more people understand makes it easier to reach out.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Primary Care Physician (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a physician, more training would enable me to offer better diagnoses and management plans.
- My patients directly benefit from me having more resources and understanding.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Fitness Instructor (Dallas, TX)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could have changed my life if it had been implemented earlier.
- I hope it helps current and future generations find recovery sooner.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Retired (Miami, FL)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this leads to better school training because my granddaughter's teachers weren't equipped to help until it was almost too late.
- It's about awareness and being proactive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
College Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 20 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better-trained personnel could create safer spaces for students like me to open up.
- Campus services need to understand diverse eating disorders beyond anorexia and bulimia.
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 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
School Counselor (Springfield, MA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will boost our ability to support students effectively.
- It's essential for us to have continuous, comprehensive training.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Corporate Manager (Houston, TX)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't see how this affects me directly, but I'm glad more people can get help.
- Everyone should be educated about mental health issues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Nutritionist (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Initiatives like this enhance my practice in supporting young individuals effectively.
- Better training materials will ensure consistent messages are delivered community-wide.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Middle School Student (Denver, CO)
Age: 14 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't feel it affects me directly, but it's good for those who need it.
- Having more understanding at school is a positive thing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 2: $5100000 (Low: $4050000, High: $6150000)
Year 3: $5202000 (Low: $4160000, High: $6242400)
Year 5: $5416020 (Low: $4320000, High: $6499200)
Year 10: $5922488 (Low: $4685436, High: $7117488)
Year 100: $10967424 (Low: $9087328, High: $11546736)
Key Considerations
- The NCEED will need sustained funding to hire and maintain qualified staff and continuously update training programs.
- Training could potentially be expanded beyond healthcare providers to include educators and family support professionals, increasing effectiveness but at a higher cost.
- Forecasting the economic impact is challenging as it relies on many long-term behavioral health changes.