The UCSF Eating Disorders Program provides comprehensive outpatient services for the assessment, treatment, and follow-up of adolescents with eating disorders.
Our program provides outstanding care for young people (up to age 25) with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, binge eating disorder, and other eating disorders.
- Our faculty are internationally renowned for developing and advancing family-based treatment approaches supported by evidence.
- We provide patients with a comprehensive approach to treatment, addressing psychological, medical, and dietary needs in the inpatient medical stabilization unit and outpatient setting.
- As the primary caregivers, parents are seen as the best resource to help a young person recover from an eating disorder and are supported by our team of experts. Young adults may also choose to include their family or significant others in treatment.
- Medical appointments are available throughout the Bay Area (see our Contact Us page for locations)
Eating Disorders Assessment
Assessments are needed in order to make proper diagnoses and recommendations for treatment. The UCSF Eating Disorders Program has an extensive assessment process to ensure that the program is a good fit for you/your child’s treatment needs. The initial assessment procedure incorporates a combination of self-report questionnaires and interviews for the patient and caregivers that ask about eating disorder symptoms, as well as other psychiatric concerns.
Eating Disorders Program at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital & Trauma Center
The Eating Disorders Program at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center provides comprehensive, evidence-based evaluation and treatment for youth with eating disorders and their families. This program is housed within Child and Adolescent Services (CAS) at Zuckerberg San Francisco General and integrated with our UCSF Eating Disorders Program. See their homepage for more information.
Insurance Coverage and Authorization
UCSF Health has contracts with many health insurance companies - ranging from preferred provider organizations (PPOs) to health maintenance organizations (HMOs) - to provide specialized inpatient and outpatient care.
Medical Services
Individuals between the ages of 12 and 25 years can be seen for an initial medical evaluation and nutrition consultation and receive ongoing medical monitoring within our Eating Disorders Program (EDP) with an appropriate referral if they have health insurance or elect to self-pay (out-of-pocket).
- Health Plans that do not require prior authorization: PPO, Children First Medical Group (e.g., Alameda Alliance Medi-Cal, San Francisco, and San Mateo County Health Plans), and University of California (UC) Care.
- Health Plans that may require prior authorization: HMO (always, unless it’s a UC Plan), POS, EPO, IPA, County Health Plans, and other public or Medi-Cal insurances.
- UCSF Health is not contracted with Kaiser Permanente (HMO); however, their organization will occasionally refer out and authorize treatment with our EDP.
Mental Health Services
- Health plans that UCSF Psychiatry is contracted with*: Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California (if mental health benefits are administered by Magellan), Cigna, United Behavioral Health, and Managed Health Net.
* Please note that although UCSF is contracted with most major insurance companies, we may not be contracted with your plan specifically.
- Health Plans that Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital is contracted with: SF Medi-Cal
- Health Plans that may provide coverage with prior authorization: Aetna, Tri-Care, Western Health Advantage.
- Health Plans that UCSF Psychiatry is not contracted with: Kaiser, Medi-Cal, County Health Plans, and other public insurance.