It is important to challenge the common—but incorrect—assumption that individuals with bleeding disorders are inherently “medically complex” and therefore inappropriate for admission to behavioral health facilities.

According to the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Council (MASAC), this assumption does not align with current medical standards. MASAC Document #289, approved in October 2024, states:

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

Facilities may label individuals with bleeding disorders as medically complex due to unfamiliarity with the condition. However, stable individuals typically manage their treatment independently in community settings without the need for hospitalization, continuous monitoring, or intensive medical oversight.

The presence of a bleeding disorder should not be used as a reason to deny or delay behavioral health treatment.

• “I completely understand that bleeding disorders can sound complicated — they’re rare, genetic conditions that most behavioral health providers don’t encounter often. That unfamiliarity can understandably make it seem like these patients need a high level of medical support. In reality, national guidance makes clear that for individuals who are medically stable, their bleeding disorder can be managed safely within your setting without intensive medical intervention.”

• “National guidance from the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Council (known as MASAC) is very clear on this point. MASAC has formally stated that if a person with a bleeding disorder is medically stable and has an established treatment plan from their hematologist, their day-to-day management is straightforward and not complex.”

• “In other words, as long as my patient is permitted to continue their prescribed bleeding disorder medication during admission, they are not medically complex, and their diagnosis alone should not be a reason for exclusion from treatment.”

• “MASAC guidance (Document #289, approved October 2024) specifically notes that stable individuals with bleeding disorders typically manage their condition independently in the community. They don’t need hospitalization, remote monitoring, or special medical supervision. The presence of a bleeding disorder alone does not make someone medically unfit or unstable for behavioral-health admission.”

• “If any unrelated medical issue were to arise during treatment, the facility should simply follow its usual standard of care, just as it would for any other patient.”

• “I’m happy to send you the full MASAC recommendation from the national experts and walk through any questions you might have.”

Send the following to the facility:

• MASAC Guidance on Patient Admission: Personalize this email template to share the official MASAC guidance for patient admission.

• MASAC Document #289: Share MASAC Document 289 for recommendations on increasing access to care for people with bleeding disorders.