Sometimes treatment programs say they can’t admit people with bleeding disorders because they think the condition is “too medically complex.”
That’s not true for most people.

The national experts on bleeding disorders—called the Medical and Scientific Advisory Council (MASAC) of the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation—made this clear in their official guidance, MASAC Recommendation #289 (approved October 2024):

“If a person with a bleeding disorder is stable and has an established treatment plan from a hematologist, the daily, ongoing treatment of the condition is straightforward and not complex.”

In other words, once your bleeding disorder is stable and you follow your regular treatment plan, you don’t need hospital-level monitoring or special medical supervision.
Having a bleeding disorder should not be a reason for a behavioral-health facility to deny or delay your care.

If a program seems unsure, you can:

• Share this information with them, and

• Ask your bleeding-disorder treatment team (HTC) to confirm that you are medically stable and provide a short letter explaining that your condition is well managed and that continuing your regular medication plan during treatment is safe and appropriate.

Your HTC team can also talk directly with the facility’s medical staff if that would help reassure them.

You can use any of these examples when you talk with a facility staff member or admissions coordinator.
(Choose what feels natural in your own words.)

• “I understand that bleeding disorders may sound complicated, but national experts have said that if someone’s condition is stable and they have a treatment plan from their hematologist, the day-to-day management is straightforward and not complex.”

• “Bleeding disorders are rare, so it’s normal that your team might not see them often. But people like me usually manage our treatment independently at home. I just need to keep following my regular medication plan.”

• “According to the national guidance from MASAC, people with bleeding disorders who are stable don’t need constant monitoring or hospital care. As long as I’m allowed to take my medication while I’m here, my condition is not medically complex.”

• “MASAC also says that having a bleeding disorder alone shouldn’t prevent someone from being admitted to a mental-health or substance-use program.”

• “If something medical came up that isn’t related to my bleeding disorder, your staff would handle it the same way you would for any other patient.”

• “I can send you the MASAC recommendation so you can read exactly what the national experts said.”

If the facility still hesitates, ask your bleeding-disorder treatment team to:

• Provide a short letter confirming you are medically stable, and

• Offer to talk directly with the facility’s nurse or medical director to answer questions.

If you’re following up by email, here’s a simple message you can copy and personalize:

Subject: National Guidance on Admission for People with Bleeding Disorders

Dear [Name or Admissions Team],

Thank you for speaking with me about my (or my family member’s) admission. I wanted to share official national guidance from the Medical and Scientific Advisory Council (MASAC) of the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation, Document #289 (attached).

MASAC explains that:

“Stable persons with bleeding disorders typically manage their condition independently in accordance with their established treatment plan in the community. They do not require hospitalization, frequent medical visits, remote monitoring, or medical supervision.”

“The presence of an underlying bleeding disorder alone does not make a patient medically unfit or medically unstable and should not preclude them from admission to a mental-health or substance-use disorder treatment facility.”

Because I am medically stable and will continue my prescribed medication during treatment, my bleeding disorder should not be considered “medically complex.”

If a medical issue unrelated to my bleeding disorder came up, it would be handled using your facility’s usual standard of care—just as with any other patient.

I’d be happy to review the MASAC recommendation with your team or connect you with my bleeding-disorder treatment center for any clinical questions.

Warm regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Phone / Email]
(optional) [Name of Bleeding Disorder Treatment Center Contact]