FIGHTING DIABETES
The U.S. government is considering whether to expand coverage for weight-loss surgery as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. It’s a move that could lead other health insurers to do the same. Among the evidence the U.S. Medicare program is considering, according to a report by Reuters:
A study of about 60 patients found that 73 percent of those who underwent bariatric surgery saw their diabetes go into remission, compared to 13 percent of the patients who controlled their blood sugar by watching their diet and other traditional methods. Reuters said:
Many employers cover the surgeries for patients with a body mass index — a measure of weight in relation to height — above 40, as well as for those who have a BMI of 35 and another obesity-related illness such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
Now Medicare is looking at covering diabetic patients with lower BMIs.
Bariatric surgery, which can cost $15,000 to $30,000 reduces the body’s ability to absorb food either by re-routing the digestive tract or by adding a medical device – made by Johnson & Johnson or by Irvine-based Allergan — that constricts the stomach (pictured).
For more information, see the Bariatric Surgery section of OCRegister.com’s page on cosmetic medicine and bariatric surgery and the article “Get the info you need about bariatric surgery.”
