The Center for Medicare and Medicai...

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has changed the language in their coverage manual that stated obesity is not an illness. The of the present day policy would remove barriers to covering antiobesity intervention if scientific and medical evidence demonstrate their effectiveness in improving health issues The change does not affect the existing coverage of treatments of disease resulting in or made worse by means of obesity, specifically currently covered surgical treatments for morbidly obese patients. As entreats for coverage of obesity treatments are made, CM will implement timely reviews of the scientific evidence provided from published clinical trials. More information is available online at http://wwwdhhsgov/news/press/2004pres/20040715html

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