Health Hope Harmony — Cedar Rapids
Outpatient · Adolescents and adults
Iowa
Eating disorder treatment in Iowa
An estimated 277,830 Iowans will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime, and the state has no in-state residential or inpatient eating disorder beds. The highest level of care available in Iowa is partial hospitalization. Care ranges from outpatient and virtual programs up to a partial hospitalization eating disorder track at the academic program in Iowa City.(source)
- Statewide
- Licensed eating disorder treatment centers
- Multiple
- PHP and outpatient care
- 24/7
- Free, confidential admissions line
Tap a leaf to see treatment centers in that area
Licensed treatment programs
Browse by city
Browse by level of care
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 Iowa centers
Cedar Rapids
Coralville
Green Counseling Center for Eating Disorders — Coralville
Outpatient · Adolescents and adults
Iowa City
University of Iowa Health Care Eating Disorder Program — Iowa City
Partial (PHP), Outpatient · Adolescents and adults
West Des Moines
Edison Eating Disorder and Mental Health Services — West Des Moines
Outpatient · All ages
About eating disorder treatment in Iowa
Eating disorder programs in Iowa are located in the eastern corridor around Iowa City, Coralville, and Cedar Rapids, with an outpatient practice in the Des Moines metro. The University of Iowa Health Care Eating Disorder Program in Iowa City offers partial hospitalization plus outpatient care, the highest level available in the state, after the university closed its inpatient eating disorder unit. Green Counseling Center for Eating Disorders in Coralville, Edison Eating Disorder and Mental Health Services in West Des Moines, and Health Hope Harmony in Cedar Rapids provide outpatient care. People who need residential or inpatient care travel out of state for it.
Paying for treatment in Iowa
Most commercial health plans in Iowa cover eating disorder treatment as a mental health benefit, subject to your plan's usual deductible, copays, and prior-authorization requirements for higher levels of care. Iowa residents who need residential or inpatient care will need to travel out of state.(source)
Iowa Medicaid (run as managed care through Iowa Health Link) covers eating disorder treatment as a mental health benefit, with prior authorization and medical-necessity review for higher levels of care. The University of Iowa Health Care Eating Disorder Program in Iowa City accepts Iowa Medicaid for its partial hospitalization and outpatient eating disorder care; the program you call can confirm whether other in-state operators accept Iowa Medicaid. Children may also qualify through Healthy and Well Kids in Iowa (Hawki).(source)
Iowa has a state mandate requiring carriers offering individual, group, and small-group plans to cover the treatment of eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID, and OSFED, with covered treatment that includes residential programs.(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 Iowa
Where can I get residential eating disorder treatment in Iowa?
Iowa has no in-state residential or inpatient eating disorder facility. The state's only inpatient unit, at the University of Iowa Health Care, has since closed. The highest level of in-state care is now the partial hospitalization track at the University of Iowa Health Care Eating Disorder Program in Iowa City, with outpatient practices in Coralville, West Des Moines, and Cedar Rapids. People who need residential or inpatient care travel out of state.
Does Iowa Medicaid cover eating disorder treatment?
Yes. Iowa Medicaid, run through Iowa Health Link, covers eating disorder treatment as a mental health benefit. The University of Iowa Health Care program in Iowa City accepts it for partial hospitalization and outpatient care, and children may also qualify through Hawki.
What about eating disorder treatment in western Iowa, the rural counties, or smaller cities?
Iowa's in-person specialty programs are in Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, and the Des Moines metro. Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Dubuque, and the rural counties of western and southern Iowa have no in-person eating disorder specialty program. For families in those areas, virtual programming is the main option for outpatient and intensive outpatient care, and residential or inpatient care means an out-of-state placement.
Talk to admissions at a treatment center
Free and confidential. Direct connection, 24/7.
Call (602) 834-4077In crisis right now? Iowa crisis resources →
Eating disorders we cover
Compiled by the EDrehab editorial team. Last reviewed: see each cited source for the underlying publication date.