Welcome to the Bariatric Learning Center. We publish independent, unbiased news about the bariatric weight-loss surgery.
How would you like it if your tax dollars went toward an obese person’s weight loss surgery? I guess if you were on the receiving end of the coverage, you would like it just fine. This will soon be happening in the state of Oregon, where government health officials have decided to bankroll some forms of bariatric surgery.
We will get into the details in a moment. But first, here’s a quick definition for readers who are unfamiliar with this area of medicine:
Bariatric surgery refers to a variety of surgical procedures designed to help the patient lose weight. It was traditionally reserved fro the morbidly obese. But over the last few years, the spectrum of eligibility has opened up considerably (related story). “Bariatrics” is the field of medicine that deals with obesity.
Bariatric surgery is also referred to as weight-loss surgery. The most popular treatments in this field are (A) the adjustable gastric band, (2) the gastric bypass, and (3) the gastric sleeve. All of these procedures aim to reduce the patient’s stomach and eating capacity, which leads to weight loss.
All of these weight-loss surgery options are available in Oregon. From what we have gathered, the state will cover all forms of bariatric surgery (if the patient meets other program requirements). Income is one of the primary considerations. As of now, only low-income patients will receive coverage under the Oregon Health Plan.
Dr. Lisa Dodson of the Oregon Health Services Commission says the state could actually save money in the long run. By offering coverage for certain types of weight loss surgery, the state could end up paying less in total health expenses related to obese patients. The theory is by doing the surgery on the front end, you save money in the long run.
“It’s not just about cost,” Dr. Dodson told KATU News. “We consider cost-effectiveness.”
Officials with the Oregon Health Services Commission have created a list of medical conditions they are willing to cover. Bariatric / weight-loss surgery is on the list, but priority is given to patients who have diabetes. Obese people without diabetes have a lesser chance of receiving coverage.
The state of Oregon paid for 88 bariatric surgery procedures during the period of 2008 – 2010. Health officials have not said whether they expect to cover more or fewer surgeries in 2011.
Bariatric procedures cost anywhere from $15,000 – $29,000, depending on the type of surgery, location and other variables.
Weight loss surgery is one of the fastest-growing fields of medicine. The growth rate is staggering. Between 1998 and 2004, we saw an 804-percent increase in the total number of bariatric surgeries in the U.S. No, that’s not a typo. It was an 804-percent increase. In 1998, there were approximately 13,000 procedures. In 2004 … more than 120,000. These statistics come from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, a government organization.
Oregon residents who wish to undergo bariatric surgery basically have three financing options:
- Pay for the weight loss procedure out of pocket.
- Have insurance cover all or part of the surgery.
- Seek coverage from the state of Oregon.
The first option is financially unrealistic for many patients. The section option is feasible, if the patient’s insurance company is willing to cover the procedure. Many insurance companies won’t cover bariatric surgeries, while others have strict requirements for body mass index or BMI. The third option (state coverage) will only be available to a select few individuals — particularly those with diabetes.
