Tricare Now Covers Sleeve Gastrectomy
According to the recent article on the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Tricare Now Covers Sleeve Gastrectomy American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, Tricare beneficiaries with severe obesity will now be covered for sleeve gastrectomy thanks to a policy change made in December 2015 by the health care program for members of the military and their families.
The article states that “Among the major insurers, TRICARE was essentially the last hold out on sleeve gastrectomy coverage,” said John M. Morton, MD, immediate past president, ASMBS. “The ASMBS and its partners had been meeting and providing data to TRICARE for about two-and-a-half years prior to this change. We are very pleased they have now joined nearly every other health plan in providing coverage for what has become the most common bariatric procedure in America.”
According to the ASMBS, about 193,000 people had bariatric surgery in 2014, and sleeve gastrectomy was found to be the most common procedure, accounting for 51.7 percent of weight-loss operations, followed by gastric bypass (26.8%), gastric band (9.5%), and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (0.4%).
“Bariatric surgery remains the most effective method of weight loss and sleeve gastrectomy is an important option that should not be excluded because it’s among the newer procedures,” said Dr. English. “TRICARE did the right thing and we as a society and health professionals will continue to work very hard so that our patients have access to life changing, and in many cases, life-saving procedures. Insurers cannot afford to not cover bariatric surgery.”
To read the full article on ASMBS click here.