Obesity Could Get New Classification-Govt Studying What It Would Mean To Call Obesity Disease

theomahachannel.com ^

[chance33_98]

Obesity Could Get New Classification

Government Studying What It Would Mean To Call Obesity Disease

POSTED: 4:27 p.m. CST November 10, 2003 UPDATED: 4:42 p.m. CST November 10, 2003

OMAHA, Neb. -- Studies show obesity is on the rise in the United States. Some believe it's a disease and should be treated as one. An article published in the Washington Post said a move to define obesity as a disease could expand insurance coverage to millions of people who need treatment. The federal agency that runs the Medicare and Medicaid insurance programs is looking at reclassifying obesity.

Calling obesity a disease would make it easier for millions to get treatment, according to supporters. Others argue that a new classification would only increase already high insurance premiums.

"Insurance companies require patients to have lost weight through medical means," said Dr. Ranjan Sudan at Creighton University Medical Center, "but then the medical means aren't covered."

Sudan said, often patients are trying to lose weight but are unsuccessful. Medical treatment is used as a last resort. One of his patients -- a 20-year-old who weighs more than 600 pounds -- was denied coverage for a life-saving procedure.

"When we approached Medicare to help with his weight loss by medical means, he was denied because medical weight loss is not covered," said Sudan.

A new classification could change insurance funding rules and pour research dollars into treating obesity.

"More funding dollars would be spent towards finding out causes and appropriate treatments of obesity and I think that that would be the more significant change," said Sudan.

The IRS reclassified obesity as a disease last year. For tax purposes, Americans can claim deductions for some health expenses related to obesity.

If Medicaid and Medicare reclassify obesity as a disease, covered treatments could range from medication to gym memberships.

[thoughtomator]

It means that more people get to steal from you and me to pay for their own lack of self-control.

[Eärendil]

Such are the sad consequences of Title IX and the ADA, which make what should be solely medical issues into political ones.

[glock rocks]

you mean I could sit on my fat lazy ass and eat french fries for free insurance?

that's almost as wonderful as income tax refunds to people who haven't paid a time of income tax... sure to be a big hit in blueland!

[glock rocks]

dime

paid a dime of income tax.

[Porterville]

Crazy, what can one say about people who won't take care of themselves??? I guess we can roll them back into the ocean, and hang the CEO's from the weight/diet industry who push these lobbiest.

[carlson]

Yet ANOTHER class of 'victims'
Be a fat@ss, eat till you look like the Michelin man, and your all set.
gawd.

[chance33_98]

Ping

[Robert A Cook PE]

http://www.strangecosmos.com/content/item/101355.html

For your "Just damn" ping list..........

[mhking]

Disease? There's an easy cure (one that I'm having a heck of a time trying to implement myself): Push back followed by the ol' "pat & turn".

Or push back from the table with a strong bit of pat the pavement & turn the corner, as my dad says.

I'm overweight myself (at 6'4" & 290#), but I wouldn't dare say that it was a "disease" as much as it is my sedentary lifestyle.

I'm in the midst of putting air in the tires on the oldest of the three bicycles in the house with the intent of using it. Period.

The only way they can call this a disease is if "laziness" can be callec a disease.