Community Health Network Eating Disorder Coverage

Eating disorders may seem extreme, but they’re more common than many people may think. And they’re also more dangerous than many people may realize, leading to significant health complications or even death if left untreated.

Yet, treatment programs for these mental health conditions can be lengthy, and are often expensive. Most people rely on health insurance to cover at least some of the cost of eating disorder care.

If you use Community Health Network for your healthcare needs, you may have some questions about what types of eating disorder coverage are available through the plan.

What Is Community Health Network?

Community Health Network (CHN) is a fully-integrated health care system in Indiana, with more than 200 sites servicing Central Indiana. [1]

The company operates a non-profit health system, and provides a full continuum of care for patients throughout the state. Working with marketplace and government programs, CHN works to provide affordable coverage and comprehensive care for patients who may otherwise struggle to obtain it.

Does CHN Cover Eating Disorder Care?

Yes. CHN offers a number of treatment modalities across their health services which can help people with eating disorders of different types.

Among its mental health services, CHN offers several options for receiving care in an outpatient setting. Some covered services include:

• Home checks
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), the leading treatment for many eating disorders
• Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), a form of individual talk therapy
• Group therapy sessions
• Support groups

CHN also offers an extensive number of services related to diet and nutrition, digestive health, and heart health. Particularly for patients whose eating disorders are more advanced, some of these programs may also prove beneficial.

Starting Eating Disorder Treatment Through CHN

When using CHN for eating disorder care, you’ll first have to determine the type of treatment or therapy you’re interested in. If you’re unsure where to start, you can speak with your doctor, therapist, or a trusted medical professional and ask them for advice.

Once you know what you’re looking for, make sure that the doctor or treatment you want to work with is in-network. You can find in-network providers for Community Health Direct here.

Once you’ve chosen a provider, click “request appointment” and fill out the form to get started.

Which Treatment Centers Accept CHN?

Community Health Network’s collection of facilities includes a large array of diet and nutrition rehab centers and services for anyone suffering from the effects of an eating disorder. [2]

These centers offer outpatient eating disorder therapy for people with anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and other types of eating disorders. Medical care at these centers may include individual therapy, group therapy, or nutritional counseling and education.

Before visiting these centers, you’ll need to visit a primary care physician in the CHN network, in order to get a referral. If you don’t have a primary care physician at Community Health Network, you can find one through the company’s website.

Does CHN Have Coverage Limitations?

Community Health Network may boast an expansive care network, but navigating it can be confusing, especially for new patients.

The company only recently integrated health insurance into their wider services, so the process may not be completely streamlined. This means if you’re currently seeing a therapist or doctor who is not part of Community Health Network’s current provider network, you may need to switch your doctor to remain covered under CHN.

When it comes to eating disorder care specifically, it’s possible that CHN may only cover certain types of care for certain types of disorders, or only provide coverage for a certain duration of treatment. A representative of the company will be able to provide you with more detailed information about your specific plan.

Eating Disorders in Indiana

Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that can lead to significant health problems and even death if left untreated. Some of the most common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder (BED), and other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED).

Eating disorders are characterized by severe disturbances in a person’s eating behavior, such as extreme dietary restriction or purging through vomiting or laxative abuse. These disturbances can result in a low body weight, which is below what is expected for the person’s age and height; an inappropriate binge-eating/purging type of behavior; or a combination of the two.

And while Indiana has a relatively small population, these medical issues are still relatively common there. The state sees approximately 1,100 ER visits concerning eating disorders every year. [3]

Socioeconomic Impacts of Eating Disorders in Indiana

Eating disorders can take a serious and heavy toll on someone’s physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Yet while the personal devastation brought on by these disorders is certainly their worst consequence, they can also come at some expense in the domain of public health.

In Indiana alone, eating disorders cost the economy around $1.3 billion each year. [3] The staggering total doesn’t just incorporate the direct cost of treatment—it also takes into account contributions lost from people who are out of work due to their medical complications, and unable to fully participate in their communities.

Losing work can also put someone at risk of losing their job, which likely puts them in danger of losing their medical insurance, creating a negative feedback loop that can make it even more difficult for someone to find proper care.

Other Eating Disorder Treatment Options

Community Health Network may offer a number of options for someone struggling with an eating disorder, but even this expansive network doesn’t cover it all.

Eating disorders are often treated on varying levels, depending on the severity of the case, among other factors. And while CHN offers outpatient care, other treatment options for eating disorders include:

• Inpatient treatment: These programs are generally the most intensive kind of eating disorder care, requiring patients to stay at a facility for several weeks or several months. This type of treatment is generally recommended for people whose eating disorders are severe, or who may need medical or emotional stabilization before proceeding to other types of care.
• Partial hospitalization programs (PHP): This type of care is often used as a transition from inpatient treatment to outpatient care. Partial hospitalization programs allow patients to live and sleep at home, but require them to attend a certain amount of treatment every week.
• Virtual treatment: This type of care takes place entirely online and allows patients to receive counseling via phone, text, or email, rather than meeting their doctor face-to-face. Virtual therapy is typically the last step for someone transitioning out of more intensive care, or the first step for someone whose eating disorder symptoms may not be as severe.

Finding Help for an Eating Disorder

If you or a loved one are struggling with an eating disorder, it’s important to seek out help.

Securing health insurance coverage is often a crucial step toward ensuring someone follows up with treatment and care, so if you have CHN, you’re already ahead of the game. You can start your search by contacting a representative at the company, who should be able to direct you toward in-network programs that may be helpful.

If you don’t have health care coverage or aren’t sure where to start, you can ask a doctor, therapist, or other trusted healthcare professional. These experts often have advice on which types of programs you may benefit from most, or the next best steps to take.

If you don’t feel comfortable talking to other people about your condition, you can also call an eating disorder hotline, which can provide you with further information and resources to get you started on your recovery journey.

Resources

1. About Community Health Network. Community Health Network. Accessed March 2023.
2. Diet and Nutrition. Community Health Network. Accessed March 2023.
3. Social and Economic Cost of Eating Disorders in Indiana. Harvard School of Public Health. Accessed March 2023.

Published on May 22, 2023 Published on EatingDisorderHope.com