Medicare: Obesity Declared Medical Problem

[jeffrey]

In a major decision that turns obesity from a personal failure to a medical problem, Medicare announced Thursday that it would remove barriers to covering anti-obesity treatments after 40 years of saying fat was not an illness and not covered.

The change, disclosed by Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson at a Senate hearing, could open the program to covering surgery to shrink the stomach and intensive in- and outpatient programs at hospitals that provide diet and exercise management. Medicare, a government insurance program, provides medical coverage for more than 40 million Americans 65 and older as well as those with disabilities. The change suggests that private insurers likely will feel pressure to provide similar coverage... [read more at usatoday.com]