PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ENDS 12/23/2005

Medicare wants to exclude the Duodenal Switch from Coverage (and
other procedures below) for all Medicare patients. Medicare wants
to restrict surgery to only persons under the age of 65.

If Medicare excludes this surgery- private insurance companies will
follow their lead. The comment period ends next week.

If you have not done so already, please leave a comment with
Medicare. Please let them know (for example) that DS, BPD/DS
should be covered and what it has done for you (or will do). Be sure
to state the procedure you had or will have done. Please comment
now.
If you oppose to excluding WLS coverage to everyone age 65 and older-
please let them know this also.

Please send Comments to:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcd/public_comment.asp?nca_id=160&basketitem=

If you are so inclined; drop a note to your Senator, Representative
or President asking them to change Medicare`s proposed decision,
here is a easy link to them:
http://mygov.governmentguide.com/mygov/home/

Please check this: Medicare's Slippery Slope
http://www.medicareforus.org/

Proposed Decision Memo for Bariatric Surgery for the Treatment of
Morbid Obesity (CAG-00250R)

"The evidence is not adequate to conclude that the following
bariatric surgery procedures are reasonable and necessary and they
are therefore non-covered for all Medicare beneficiaries:

open vertical banded gastroplasty,

laparoscopic vertical banded gastroplasty,

open sleeve gastrectomy,

laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy,

open adjustable gastric banding,

open biliopancreatic diversion with or without duodenal switch, and

laparoscopic biliopancreatic diversion with or without duodenal
switch.

The two non-coverage determinations in the National Coverage
Determination Manual (NCDM) remain unchanged: Gastric Balloon (NCDM
Section 100.11) and Intestinal Bypass (NCDM Section 100.8). . "

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcd/viewdraftdecisionmemo.asp?id=160