The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) today announced its support of recent policy changes by Aetna Inc. and United Healthcare. The national health insurance giants will now cover laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, a newer method of bariatric surgery that is becoming increasingly popular as a treatment for morbid obesity.
"We are pleased that Aetna and United Healthcare now includes sleeve gastrectomy among its covered bariatric procedures," said John W. Baker, MD, FACS, President of ASMBS. "In the rapidly changing field of bariatric and metabolic surgery, it is important to provide coverage and access to a wide range of proven treatment methods. Sleeve gastrectomy has now reached that threshold where the data and our experience with the procedure supports its safe and effective use in people affected by the chronic disease of morbid obesity."
Read the entire article: http://www.asmbs.org/Newsite07/news/ASMBS-Sleeve_Gastrectomy_insurance_coverage_seo_FINAL.pdf
