TRP at EDC Advocacy Day

On April 15th, 2026 four members of The RecoverED Project (TRP) attended the Eating Disorders Coalition (EDC) Advocacy Day in Washington D.C., joining advocates from across the country in meetings with members of the Senate and House of Representatives to address critical eating disorder legislation.

Advocates arrived at Capitol Hill to push for two important legislative priorities. The first ask was securing $4 million in federal funding for work targeting early intervention: $3 million through SAMHSA to scale Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment for Eating Disorders (SBIRT-ED) training programs for primary care providers, and $1 million through HHS to advance early detection research. With 28.8 million Americans expected to struggle with an eating disorder in their lifetime, and most primary care providers receiving minimal training on the subject, this funding is essential to catching symptoms before they become more severe (Deloitte Access Economics, 2020).

The second ask was urging legislators to co-sponsor the Nutrition Counseling Aiding Recovery for Eating Disorders (Nutrition CARE) Act, which would mandate Medicare coverage for outpatient medical nutrition services. Currently, Medicare covers dietitian services for solely diabetes and renal disease. Despite dietetic support being central to recovery, these services are not offered to those with eating disorders, leaving an alarming gap in the care team. Eating disorders already cost the U.S. approximately $65 billion per year in healthcare costs and productivity loss, including over $29 million in annual emergency room visit costs that could have been prevented with outpatient nutritional support (Deloitte Access Economics, 2020). For many Medicare recipients, the out-of-pocket cost of a dietitian is out of reach, creating a two-tiered system where full recovery is a privilege as opposed to the right it should be.

Throughout the day, TRP members participated in meetings with congressional offices, educating staff on the realities of eating disorder care. For Nyla, TRP’s Projects Specialist, the day was a powerful reminder of why these spaces need voices like ours:

“Attending EDC Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill was such a life-changing experience. Being surrounded by other advocates and professionals in the field who are committed to change made me feel very empowered to use my voice in political spaces. It reminded me that there is power in advocacy. One of my biggest takeaways was realizing how necessary it is for voices like ours to be in these spaces. I left feeling more motivated than ever to continue this work and to be part of creating a future where everyone has access to the support they need.”

‍ ‍Mairead, TRP’s Secretary, reflected on how she found connection and community through the day’s events:

‍ ‍“Going to EDC allowed me to find another silver lining from my ED. I got to educate members of Congress and state senators about eating disorders and the harmful impacts they're having on our country, our economy, and our culture. I even got the opportunity to converse with others with lived experiences from different ages and cultures, to genders and religions. It was truly amazing to see what we have all gone through and how our experiences can now make a real impact — so no one has to go through this anymore.”

For Anika, TRP’s Head of Written Publications, one of the most meaningful moments was the restored sense of hope that advocacy brought her:

“At EDC Advocacy Day, fellow advocates brought statistics to life through real narratives. Witnessing these stories translate into change in real time was something truly incredible to be a part of. Being able to share my own lived experience as someone who didn't fit the traditional mold of an eating disorder, and seeing how it directly aligned with our asks (funding for research and improved ED training and screening practices for primary care physicians) filled me with so much hope for the future of ED care.”

TRP’s advocacy efforts yielded immediate results. Sarah, TRP’s Head of Public Relations, had the opportunity to meet directly with Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, and by the end of the day, he had signed the appropriations letter in support of federal funding for improved eating disorder care. 

Furthermore, as of May 21st, 2026, EDC announced that SAMHSA has released a new funding opportunity to establish a national Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders, granting up to $1.87 million per year for five years to train healthcare providers on early screening, intervention, and referral. The award was made possible by federal funding secured largely due to EDC's advocacy earlier this year. This release was a reminder that these conversations matter and that advocacy works.

The RecoverED Project advocates are excited to return to EDC Advocacy Day next year to continue pushing for the systemic change that so many deserve. 

References: 

Deloitte Access Economics. (2020). The social and economic cost of eating disorders in the United States of America: A report for the Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders and the Academy for Eating Disorders. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/striped/report-economic-costs-of-eating-disorders/