Error: Page Not Found We're sorry, but there is no www.cms.gov web page that matches your entry. You may have been directed here because: The address you typed contains a typo; The requested page may have expired or; The requested page may have been moved. Please try one of the following resources: Regulations & Guidance Information Note: If you were using a bookmark, please reset it once you find the correct page. FDA Approves New Drug to Treat Obesity Will My Insurance Pay for Rehab? Sponsored ⓘLegal Stuff - This free insurance benefits check is a service performed by advertising sponsor Service Industries, Inc., part of a network of commonly owned rehabilitation service providers. By inputting your information, you consent to your information being transmitted to Service Industries, Inc., so that one of its representatives may contact you to discuss your insurance benefits and options for obtaining treatment. Seeking Help For *- Select -SelfLoved one

Insurance Company Name * Insurance type *- Select -MedicareMedi-CalHMOPPOTRICAREOTHERI Don't Have Insurance Best time to call Your Phone Number * Saxenda, a formulation of Novo Nordisk’s diabetes drug, liraglutide, was recently approved for use by the FDA with a few restrictions. The medicine is currently only available to patients with a body mass index of 30 or higher. Patients must also be diagnosed with at least one weight-related health condition. While a study has shown Saxenda to be more effective than its competitors, some doctors still have their doubts.Saxenda helps patients lose weight by slowing the digestive process, and a study of the drug revealed it does indeed work. Half the patients lost at least 5% of their body weight, compared to 2-5% by its competitors.  However, physicians are concerned about the drug’s method of administration and feel some patients may be leery of taking injections. Many doctors believe Saxenda will be met with success despite this fact, but some have reservations about the drug’s overall effectiveness. 

“None of the available drugs and none on the horizon are sufficiently powerful to eradicate obesity,” said Lee Kaplan, chair of the clinical committee of the Obesity Society. Saxenda will cost approximately $40 per day, much higher than its competitors cost of only $5-6. But Medicaid will likely cover the costs since Saxenda is based on liraglutide, a diabetes drug that has been proven to be safe. Please read our comment policy. obesity medication FDA Saxenda diabetes News Paul Gaita Will My Insurance Pay For Rehab? Seeking Help For *Medicare�s Nursing Home Compare adds new measures, updates today 10, 2016 � One of Medicare�s most popular ratings websites - � was updated thisThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) says it has added new measures... Raising Medicare eligibility age may save feds dollars but drive up Some health spending dropped by a third with switch from private May 6, 2016 - Healthcare spending for some services dropped by nearly a third when people

turned 65 and switched from private insurance to Medicare, according to a recent study. The decline was driven by lower prices paid by the Medicare program to doctors and other providers rather than a drop-off in the volume of services seniors receive. Nursing Home Compare expanded by Now has 24 measures for May 2, 2016 - Six new quality measures have been added to the Nursing Home CompareDiscount Tire Atv Wheels website and three are the first to be based on Medicare-claimsJacuzzi Hot Tub 200 Series data from hospitals, rather than data self-reported by nursingCan Cats And Dogs Get Mono New CMS rules for Medicaid plans will improve services Rules tighten for private insurance plans that administer most Medicaid benefits for the

Medicare bariatric surgery has been approved, but certain caveats Medicare, Medigap, and Medicaid are government administered programs designed to expand access to health care. Medicare is a U.S. government-controlled health care program for people… Medicare has four separate parts, including: Medigap, also known as Medicare Supplemental Insurance, covers costs that Parts A through D do not. As with Medicare Advantage, as long as you qualify for Medicare you can purchase Medigap coverage through approved insurance companies or a broker that represents them. Medicaid programs are state-run programs established for low-income individuals or families. Medicaid pays medical benefits directly to providers (doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, etc.) for “Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries.” If you qualify, each state has its own requirements and may or may not pay for the surgery. Back to top of Medicare Bariatric Surgery There are contradicting opinions about whether or not weight

surgery is safe and effective for people 65 years of age and older… to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services “The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has determined that the evidence is adequate to conclude that open and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP), laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), [laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (gastric sleeve surgery – added to covered bariatric surgeries in 2012)], and open and laparoscopic biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD/DS), are reasonable and necessary for Medicare beneficiaries who have a body-mass index (BMI) > 35, have at least one co-morbidity related to obesity, and have been previously unsuccessful with medical treatment for obesity.” Take a look at the CMS web site to read their entire opinion. The takeaway is that bariatric surgery may be appropriate for over 65 depending each individual’s situation, but it is likely that a lower percentage of seniors will qualify for surgery than those under 65 years of age.

The best way to determine whether surgery is right for you is to discuss it with your primary care physician and a reputable local weight loss surgeon. Most surgeons offer free seminars that teach you about your options and their office’s specific results. The seminars also allow you to get to know the surgeon prior to a one-on-one consultation (usually free as well). Click here to find and schedule a free in-person seminar or one-on-one consultation with a qualified weight loss surgeon in your area. You can also click here to learn how to evaluate and interview potential bariatric surgeons. Medicaid coverage for bariatric surgery is decided on a state by state basis – some states cover it and some do not. To find and contact your state’s Medicaid office, click here. Medicare has determined that bariatric surgery is appropriate treatment of obesity as long as the patient has… of the above apply, the surgery must be one of the following types…

Medicare does not currently cover the gastric balloon procedure. To get approved, you’ll need to be referred by your primary physician or other attending doctor (probably not just a self-referral to a bariatric surgeon). In their referral to a bariatric surgeon, your physician should refer to the obesity health problems that are expected to improve after surgery. Bariatric Surgery Facility Certification (Center of Excellence) Requirements The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) no longer require weight loss surgery hospitals and facility to be designated Centers of Excellence in order to be covered. According to CMS, "the evidence is sufficient to conclude that continuing the requirement for certification for bariatric surgery facilities would not improve health outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries.  Therefore, CMS has decided to remove this certification requirement." For more information about the change, click here. If you obtain/have traditional Medicare coverage, you’ll need to choose a facility that meets the Centers

Medicare and Medicaid Services’ minimum facility standards and certification requirements for Medicare bariatric surgery. Click here to search their directory. If you choose/have Medicare Advantage, you’ll need to verify that your chosen surgical team and their hospital are in your insurance company’s network. Call your insurance company directly to find out. Regardless of which Medicare plan you have or are applying for, talk with your surgeon to find out if they accept Medicare/Medicare Advantage. They may have some especially useful tips on how to streamline the process with Medicare Advantage insurance companies in your area. Applying for coverage for a Medicare plan depends on your goals and situation. As long as you meet the eligibility criteria described above, following are your options: Schedule a free seminar or one-on-one consultation with a qualified weight loss surgeon in your area Financing bariatric surgery (without Medicare bariatric surgery or other insurance)