Obesity covered by medicare
 

In a step to have the government control and fund every step of our lives....

Medicare Scraps Old Policy on Obesity

Thu Jul 15,11:15 PM ET Add White House - AP Cabinet & State to My Yahoo!


By ELIZABETH WOLFE, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Medicare is discarding its policy that obesity is not a disease, potentially throwing open the door for millions of overweight Americans to make medical claims for treatments such as stomach surgery and diet programs.



"Obesity is a critical public health problem in our country that causes millions of Americans to suffer unnecessary health problems and to die prematurely," Health and Human Services (news - web sites) Secretary Tommy Thompson told a Senate panel Thursday. Treating obesity-related illnesses results in billions of dollars in health care costs, he said.


"With this new policy, 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," Thompson said.


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 can be covered.


Though Medicare and Medicaid programs cover sicknesses caused 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.


Some detractors of the change said it is based on unsound science.


"We have a tremendously exaggerated fear of higher than average weight in this culture," said University of Colorado law professor Paul Campos, author of "The Obesity Myth."


"What's partly baseless is this notion that the government needs to intervene to make Americans thinner," Campos said.


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 surgical procedures related to obesity.

oOo:

god i HATE politics

same. better lock this thread before short hand or some other guy gets a look at this.

omg he is talking about politics !!!!! BANNN HIMMMM !!!!!!!!!!! OMG OMG !!!!!!!! . What is off topic fo anyways ? it is an intresting topic, but whats the point in posting it if you all think politics should be banned ? WHat should we post here ? omfg hax or something about gayness as uasaual ?. We need either a new forum to support this stuff, since it is more intresting then the other garbage, (omg ANOTHER STAR WARS KID VID !!!!!.

[quote="Short Hand":239d1]omg he is talking about politics !!!!! BANNN HIMMMM !!!!!!!!!!! OMG OMG !!!!!!!! . What is off topic fo anyways ? it is an intresting topic, but whats the point in posting it if you all think politics should be banned ? WHat should we post here ? omfg hax or something about gayness as uasaual ?. We need either a new forum to support this stuff, since it is more intresting then the other garbage, (omg ANOTHER STAR WARS KID VID !!!!!.[/quote:239d1]

ur a tool

[quote=MrLevinstein]ur a tool[/quote:a6af3]

You need to lose weight fatty.

[quote="Mr.Buttocks":9c3a0][quote=MrLevinstein]ur a tool[/quote:9c3a0]

You need to lose weight fatty.[/quote:9c3a0]

im 6'1 and wiegh 194 oOo:

[quote=MrLevinstein][quote="Mr.Buttocks":fd7e0]You need to lose weight fatty.[/quote:fd7e0]

im 6'1 and wiegh 194 oOo:[/quote:fd7e0]

Buttsechs handsome?

[quote="Mr.Buttocks":98d94][quote=MrLevinstein][quote="Mr.Buttocks":98d94]You need to lose weight fatty.[/quote:98d94]

im 6'1 and wiegh 194 oOo:[/quote:98d94]

Buttsechs handsome?[/quote:98d94]

Ne time 585-666-5545

omgzorz, you typed 666!!!!!!

[quote="Garry Coleman":c68b0]omgzorz, you typed 666!!!!!![/quote:c68b0] oOo: happy: biggrin: omg eek:

Fat people oOo:

You gotta be fuckin kidding me wallbash:

[quote=MrLevinstein][quote="Mr.Buttocks":4713d]You need to lose weight fatty.[/quote:4713d]

im 6'1 and wiegh 194 oOo:[/quote:4713d]

lol thats not that great, usually tall ppl are lanky geussing ur not, u probably drink to many beers and have had one to many happy meals

omg sirus is mad. ..................like a conservative..