Nemours Children's Health Eating Disorders Program — Wilmington, DE
Medical stabilization, Outpatient · Children and adolescents
Delaware
Eating disorder treatment in Delaware
An estimated 85,138 Delawareans will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime, and the state's only specialty program serves children and adolescents. Delaware has no residential, day-treatment, or adult specialty care. In-state options are limited to outpatient and intensive outpatient care, in person or virtual, with higher levels of care available only out of state.(source)
- Statewide
- Licensed eating disorder treatment centers
- Multiple
- Medical stabilization and outpatient care
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Medical stabilizationMedical management of malnutrition, refeeding, comorbidities.Inpatient hospitalizationAcute hospital care for medical instability and psychiatric crisis.Residential treatmentLive-in care with 24/7 clinical and nursing support, in a non-hospital setting.Partial hospitalization (PHP)Day treatment, structured clinical hours.Intensive outpatient (IOP)Several days per week, returning to work or family.OutpatientWeekly therapy and medical visits.Virtual / telehealth treatmentRemote care, from outpatient therapy to full virtual IOP and PHP.
All licensed Delaware centers
Wilmington
About eating disorder treatment in Delaware
The one in-state specialty program is the Nemours Children's Health Eating Disorders Program in Wilmington, which provides outpatient and intensive outpatient care from a team of specialists, with medical stabilization available through the children's hospital when needed. It treats children and adolescents only. Specialty care is centralized in Wilmington (New Castle County); the rest of the state has no in-person eating disorder specialty program. Families who need those higher levels of care arrange an out-of-state placement, while outpatient and intensive outpatient treatment stays available in person or virtually.
Paying for treatment in Delaware
Most commercial health plans in Delaware cover eating disorder treatment as a mental health benefit, subject to your plan's deductible, copays, and prior-authorization rules for higher levels of care. In-network coverage depends on whether your specific plan contracts with the program you are considering.(source)
The Delaware Medical Assistance Program (DMAP) covers eating disorder treatment as a mental health benefit. Children may also qualify through the Delaware Healthy Children Program.(source)
Delaware's parity law covers mental illness and substance use without greater financial requirements or treatment limits than other medical conditions, and requires coverage of medically necessary residential, intensive outpatient, and inpatient care.(source)
To start a benefits verification, call to be connected with a licensed eating disorder program.
See also: our insurance guides, how to verify your benefits, and how virtual eating disorder treatment works.
Common questions about eating disorder treatment in Delaware
Where can I get residential eating disorder treatment in Delaware?
Delaware has no in-state residential, specialty inpatient, or day-treatment eating disorder facility. The only in-state specialty program is Nemours Children's Health in Wilmington, a pediatric and adolescent outpatient program that can provide medical stabilization through the children's hospital when needed. There is no in-state adult specialty program at any level. Delaware residents needing residential, specialty inpatient, day-treatment, or adult specialty care travel out of state.
Does Delaware Medicaid (DMAP) cover eating disorder treatment?
Yes. The Delaware Medical Assistance Program (DMAP) covers eating disorder treatment as a mental health benefit. Acceptance varies by program, which the program confirms when you call, and children may also qualify through the Delaware Healthy Children Program.
What about eating disorder treatment in Kent County, Sussex County, or the Delaware beaches?
Delaware's only in-state in-person specialty program is Nemours Children's Health in Wilmington (pediatric and adolescent outpatient). For families in Dover and Kent County, in Sussex County (Georgetown, Seaford, Milford), and along the beaches (Rehoboth, Bethany, Lewes), that program is a long drive even for outpatient care. Adults have no in-state specialty option at any level. Virtual programming covers outpatient and intensive outpatient care, with higher levels of care available out of state.
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Eating disorders we cover
Compiled by the EDrehab editorial team. Last reviewed: see each cited source for the underlying publication date.