Eating Disorders · Texas behavioral health news
State-Level Analysis of Access to Intensive Eating Disorder Care for Medicaid Beneficiaries - Psychiatry Online
Eating Disorders (Google News) · January 22, 2026
In plain language
Accessing specialized care for eating disorders is difficult for many people who rely on Medicaid. A recent study found that while hundreds of centers across the country offer intensive treatment, only about 25% of them accept Medicaid insurance. This creates a significant barrier for low-income patients who may need more than just standard outpatient visits. People in larger cities and states with many chain-operated clinics often face even greater challenges finding a treatment center that takes their coverage.
AI-generated summary of the source article. Not medical advice.
Key takeaways
- Only one-quarter of intensive eating disorder treatment centers in the United States accept Medicaid insurance.
- Over 90% of these specialized treatment centers accept commercial or private health insurance.
- Five states currently have no treatment centers that provide intensive services for eating disorders.
- Patients in urban areas and larger states face more barriers to finding Medicaid-accepting intensive care.
- Medicaid beneficiaries often only receive standard outpatient care even when their condition requires more intensive services.
State-Level Analysis of Access to Intensive Eating Disorder Care for Medicaid Beneficiaries Psychiatry Online
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