United Healthcare (UHC), one of the largest health carriers in the United States, has changed its bariatric medical policy to include coverage for gastric sleeve surgery. The new policy, which went into effect October 1, 2009, is a significant event for bariatric surgery patients and gastric sleeve advocates.
UHC’s decision reflects a fundamental change in their position on the effectiveness of the gastric sleeve procedure. They no longer refer to the gastric sleeve as an “experimental” procedure in their health plans, but as a “proven” treatment for clinically severe obesity. This recognition makes United Healthcare the first major insurer to cover the gastric sleeve as a complete bariatric surgical option.
Not only does this new policy have the potential to affect the more than 20 million individuals covered by United Healthcare, but their decision could influence other insurers to cover the gastric sleeve as well.
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New data shows promising results for the EndoBarrier Gastrointestinal Liner, an experimental weight loss device being evaluated for patient safety and effectiveness.
The EndoBarrier Gastrointestinal Liner, or GI Sleeve is an innovative and non-surgical approach to weight loss that is designed to eliminate or reduce the risks and side effects associated with pharmaceutical or surgical options, while providing similar benefits. The GI sleeve is a teflon liner that is placed in the GI tract endoscopically (via the mouth) to create a barrier between food and the wall of the intestine.
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A clinical trial sponsored by Ethicon Endo-Surgery is now recruiting participants for a 5 year post-approval study with the REALIZE Adjustable Gastric Band. The Realize Band is a medical device used in the treatment of morbid obesity. It is one of only two gastric banding systems that have been approved for use in the United States.
The REALIZE Band was approved for use in the United States by the FDA in 2007, following the successful completion of clinical trials which began in 2003. The current study is Phase IV of the clinical trials process, also known as the Post marketing Surveillance Trial, which involves an ongoing look at safety issues after a medical device has received permission to be marketed.
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Nutritional supplements may not be enough to avoid iron deficiency and anemia after gastric bypass surgery. According to a new study it appears that low iron levels in some gastric bypass patients may not be due to a reduced iron intake, but to the body’s inability to absorb iron after gastro-intestinal alteration.
The study, which was conducted by researchers at the University of Chile in Santiago, followed 67 Chilean women who had undergone gastric bypass surgery. All of the women were given vitamin and mineral supplements after surgery; some of the women were given an additional iron supplement.
Even with the recommended supplementation, however, more than one third of the women developed anemia within 18 months of having gastric bypass surgery.
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A new low-level laser that zaps away body fat and reduces hunger could have beneficial results for bariatric patients. One of the featured technologies at last weeks Medical Aesthetics Conference was the ZERONA Medical Laser, a non-surgical alternative to liposuction for body-shaping.
The ZERONA procedure utilizes a FDA approved cold laser technology that melts away excess fat and contours the body without surgery, medications, incisions, scars, bruising, pain, or recovery time. The laser, which feels gently warm to the touch, penetrates fat cells and causes them to leak out fat, which is then removed from the body during the normal course of detoxification.
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Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is one of the most frequently performed types of weight loss surgery. This surgical treatment for obesity, which involves implanting a medical device to control eating, has been gaining in popularity ever since it became available, largely due to its apparent safety and simplicity compared to the gastric bypass procedures.
Although short term results have been considered successful with LAGB, the procedure is still relatively new. Until now, the outcomes of patients over time has been basically unknown.
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A unique approach to weight loss is being offered by Dr. Nikolas Chugay, a leading Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon based in Southern California. He claims that his invention, which he has dubbed the “miracle patch,” is a revolutionary new weight loss procedure with impressive results.
The custom fitted patch is a small piece of mesh that is applied to the tongue during a reversible procedure that takes less than an hour to perform. Most patients recover quickly and are able to return to work the following day.
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Allergan Medical has announced that the ORBERA System for weight loss is now available in Canada and Australia. The ORBERA System is a non-surgical and non-pharmaceutical medical device that can help obese and overweight patients lose weight without the risk of surgery or drugs.
The ORBERA System, also known as the BIB Intragastric Balloon System, features a silicone balloon that is inserted via endoscopic methods into the stomach and filled with saline to assist with weight loss. By partially filling the stomach, the balloon helps a patient eat less and feel full, faster. The balloon is only temporary, remaining in the stomach no longer than six months.
As part of a managed weight loss program, the ORBERA System provides a jump start to weight loss. It is intended to help educate and teach patients about portion control and healthy eating. The ORBERA system is used in conjunction with one year of diet and behavior counseling to increase the likelihood of long-term, sustained weight loss.
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Weight loss surgery can provide lasting health benefits to children of post-bariatric mothers. A newly released study has shown that obese women who underwent weight loss surgery and lost weight prior to becoming pregnant reduced the risk of obesity in their children.
Women who are severely obese and want to have children are often advised on the benefits of having weight loss surgery before having children. Losing weight before pregnancy can make the experience safer for both mother and child by reducing the risk of pregnancy-related complications in post-bariatric women compared morbidly obese women.
This new study, which will appear in the November 2009 issue of Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM), shows that the benefits to children extend well beyond pregnancy and can affect a child’s health and risk of obesity throughout life.
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Two recent workers compensation cases were settled this month that centered on whether or not weight loss surgery should be covered for work related injuries. In both cases, the state court decided that in certain circumstances weight loss surgery can be covered if it is needed to treat a job-related injury.
The two cases were separate and unrelated incidents, but in each instance the injured employee had gained weight following a work related injury and both had been instructed to lose weight before additional surgery could be performed for the specific injury. Doctors had recommended weight loss surgery to assist with weight loss.
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