We're On Our Way To Universal Insurance Coverage for WLS!

or

An Eventual Reprieve for Many on "Death Row"



Yesterday, Medicare announced that it now recognizes obesity as an illness -
a change in policy that may eventually allow millions of obese individuals
to obtain Medicare and Medicaid coverage and payment for Weight Loss Surgery
and/or diet programs. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson
said, in announcing the change, "Obesity is a critical public health problem
in our country that causes millions of Americans to suffer unnecessary
health problems and to die prematurely."



I see and celebrate this as the first link in a chain of events and policy
changes that will ultimately result in universal health insurance coverage
of WLS costs for morbidly obese people - and end the unconscionable
imprisoning of so many of our peers on "Death Row" because their insurance
won't cover the procedure and they can't pay for it themselves.



"With this new policy," Thompson said, "Medicare will be able to review
scientific evidence in order to determine which interventions improve health
outcomes for seniors and disabled Americans who are obese." With the
removal of language in Medicare policy that said obesity is not an illness,
beneficiaries will be able to request a government review of medical
evidence to determine whether certain treatments for obesity (such as
bariatric surgery) can be covered. Although Medicare and Medicaid programs
cover sicknesses causes by obesity - including type 2 diabetes,
cardiovascular disease, several types of cancer and gallbladder disease -
the previous policy meant that weight-loss therapies have often been denied
coverage.



"The medical science will now determine whether we provide coverage for the
treatments that reduce complications and improve quality of life for the
millions of Medicare beneficiaries who are obese," said Mark McClellan,
administrator of the Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,
which oversees health insurance programs for the elderly, disabled and poor.



HHS said the policy change is not expected to immediately alter Medicare
coverage, and no figures were provided on potential costs to taxpayers. The
Medicare agency said it may meet this fall to review scientific evidence on
various WLS procedures.



I am thrilled about this rational, compassionate, humane, cost-effective and
overdue policy change. A journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step.
Today, let's celebrate our first step toward creating a more equitable
society where a person's lack of insurance or resources won't deny them the
medical interventions that can save and prolong their lives. Please help
get this information out to WLSers - and potential WLSers - in your own
support groups and circles.



(See http://news.yahoo.com/fc?tmpl=fc
<http://news.yahoo.com/fc?tmpl=fc&cid=34&in=health&cat=Obesity>
&cid=34&in=health&cat=Obesity for more information about this important
policy change. See also my newsletters #37 and #38, addressing these
issues, on the "Through Thick and Thin" newsletters page at my website at
www.weightlosssurgerycoach.com <http://www.weightlosssurgerycoach.com/> )



Glenn Goldberg, VBG 10.24.02, 360/178









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