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Treat and Reduce Obesity Act
ISSUE: The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA) will provide Medicare beneficiaries and their healthcare providers with meaningful tools to reduce obesity by improving access to weight-loss counseling and new prescription medications for chronic weight management. While the legislation is focused on improving access to obesity treatments for Medicare beneficiaries, it is important to remember that often times private and employer based insurance plans base their coverage on matching Medicare coverage. Therefore, this legislation is important to all Americans.
OUR ASK: Urge Congress to support the passage of the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act.
DEADLINE: Ongoing
ACTION ITEM: Please urge both of your Senators as well as your House of Representatives member to cosponsor and support final passage of this important legislation.
Obesity Doesn’t Discriminate
ISSUE: Obesity currently impacts more than two-thirds of Americans nationwide. While this is a significant part of the population, many individuals still find themselves severely limited when trying to access evidence-based obesity care options, such as obesity medications, bariatric surgery, behavioral therapy and more.
OUR ASK: Urge Fair Coverage of Obesity Treatment Services
DEADLINE: Ongoing
ACTION ITEM: Sign Our Petition Urging Fair Coverage of Obesity Treatment Services
Essential Benefit Coverage of Bariatric Surgery
ISSUE: 27 States do not cover bariatric surgery under the state’s essential health benefit (EHB) benchmark plan. EHB plans are the standard plans sold under the Affordable Care Act (ACA often called “Obamacare”) in healthcare exchanges and on both the individual and small business market. This, in effect, means that most individuals and small businesses can’t buy coverage for bariatric surgery.
OUR ASK: Urge the Governor to support essential benefit coverage of bariatric surgery
WHO: Residents of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
DEADLINE: December 31, 2018
ACTION ITEM: Urge your Governor to make obesity care an essential benefit.
State Employee Coverage Fails to Cover Any Obesity Care
ISSUE: 6 States do not cover comprehensive obesity care including the recommended counseling visits, medications and bariatric surgery.
OUR ASK: Urge the Governor to support obesity care coverage
WHO: Residents of Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, South Carolina and Wisconsin.
DEADLINE: December 31, 2018
ACTION ITEM: Urge your Governor to provide comprehensive obesity care for state employees.
State Employee Coverage Fails to Cover Obesity Counseling and Medications
ISSUE: 19 States do not cover comprehensive obesity care including the recommended counseling visits and medications. These states do cover bariatric surgery but not comprehensive care.
OUR ASK: Urge the Governor to support comprehensive obesity care coverage
WHO: Residents of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington or West Virginia.
DEADLINE: December 31, 2018
ACTION ITEM: Urge your Governor to provide comprehensive obesity care for state employees.
Medicaid Coverage of Bariatric Surgery and Comprehensive Obesity Care
ISSUE: Only 2 states do not cover bariatric surgery as well as the recommended number of counseling visits and medications for obesity under Medicaid.
OUR ASK: Urge the Governor to support comprehensive obesity care including bariatric surgery under Medicaid
WHO: Residents of Mississippi and Montana
DEADLINE: December 31, 2018
ACTION ITEM: Urge your Governor to make obesity care available under Medicaid.
Medicaid Coverage of Obesity Counseling and Medications
ISSUE: 30 states do not cover the recommended number of counseling visits and medications for obesity under their Medicaid programs.
OUR ASK: Urge the Governor to support comprehensive obesity care under Medicaid
WHO: Residents of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia or Wyoming.
DEADLINE: December 31, 2018
ACTION ITEM: Urge your Governor to make comprehensive obesity care available under Medicaid.