The California Health plans have dropped this requirement. We have addressed this with several carriers. What is ASMBS doing (or what can they do) to facilitate insurance approval without the onerous six-month waiting period for weight loss surgery. We will need to work at all levels to improve access. These types of professional contacts are important for dissemination of current scientific literature. Mitch Roslin, state chapter president for the New York chapter of ASMBS, has worked with their medical director for coverage policy for several years. Last fall, United Health made this part of their coverage policy. Reoperation rates are lower, though this is with a limited interval for follow up. Review of the literature reveals leak rates and bleeding rates similar to gastric bypass and duodenal switch. The medical directors have voiced concerns related to complications, reoperations, and revisions to other procedures. I, along with several members of ASMBS, have presented to several national carriers regarding coverage policy for the sleeve gastrectomy. Standardized surgical technique is in development. Long-term data are lacking, especially in regard to nutritional complications. What can you tell us about the plans of the society to push for that?ĪSMBS has updated the clinical position statement recently to reflect additional review of both short-term and midterm follow-up data. The simplicity and effectiveness of sleeve gastrectomy speaks to the need for more insurance companies to cover this procedure. Here is what he has to say about his current challenges as ASMBS president. ![]() John Baker, president of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). The staff and Editorial Advisory Board of Bariatric Times interviewed Dr. Baker has also done cosulting for and has received honoraria from Ethicon Endosurgery, Cincinnati, Ohio and Covidien, Norwalk, Connecticut. Baker reports the following financial disclosures: President, ASMBS Board of Directors, Secretary Treasurer for NOVUS insurance Company Medial Director, Baptist Health Medical Weight Loss Program Co-director Baptist Health Bariatric Surgery Program. He is Medical Director, Baptist Health Weight Loss Center, Little Rock, Arkansas, and co-director of the Baptist Medical Center’s bariatric surgery program, Little Rock, Arkansas.ĭr. John Baker runs a private practice in Little Rock, Arkansas. An interview with John Baker, MD, President of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeryĭr.
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