Use YOUR Voice! OH needs YOU!

Hello OH GA Members,

We need your voice.  We need you to join our Advocacy Team.

As many of you know, weight loss surgery in Georgia is at risk!  Unfortunately, Georgia's State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) has eliminated coverage for bariatric surgery starting in 2012.  In reality, that termination is effective now due to their requirement for a 6-month medical weight management prior to surgery. 

You can help in two ways:

1.  Did you have WLS from coverage provided through the SHBP?  Do you know of anyone that is a state employee, school system employee, retiree and/or dependents that have had WLS?  Are you a professional that works with patients covered by SHBP that have had WLS?  If so, we would appreciate receiving stories of anyone that has had surgery covered by the SHBP.  In your story, please include how your surgery helped you to lose weight and impacted your health thereby reducing your medical costs and/or diabetes. 

Please send any stories or experiences to our Advocacy Team at [email protected]. 

2.  Along with OH, you can become involved through the Obesity Action Coalition on their Georgia Action Center page:

http://capwiz.com/obesityaction/state/main/?state=GA&view=my officials

The current cuts by the SHBP set a possible precedent for other insurers to follow.  Even if the current SHBP cuts don't impact you now, we don't know where this will lead.  What if a loved one, friend or business associate of yours will not be able to obtain the life-saving health benefit of WLS in the future? 

Any ideas, help and support you can provide will make a tremendous difference.  Please feel free to contact us at [email protected]. 

In advance, thank you!