Your TESTIMONY needed!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi, I got word the other day from a Representative in the Kansas house that it has passed a bill that requires the Kansas Health Policy Authority along with the state Insurance Commissioner to conduct a study over the next year to weigh the benefits and cost savings of adding weight loss surgery coverage to the Kansas State Employee Benefits.  It is hope that coverage to state of Kansas employees may be the beginning to open the door to allow coverage for hundreds if not thousands of other Kansans from various employers suffering from the disease of obesity.  The bill is still working through the senate, but is expected to pass because it has strong bi-partisan support.  Keep in mind this isn't a mandate, but allows the possibility of coverage when people realize that it is cheaper and more humane to cover the surgery, than to go on for years treating only the commorbidities.

If you would like to track the progress if the bill, it's HB2672.  You can go to the following link to track progress: http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-legisportal/index.do

I plan to testify before the study committee when the study is conducted sometime around August.  And I advise all of you who have had the surgery or are seeking the surgery to get ahold of your local legislators, the Kansas Health Policy Authority, the Governor's Office, and the state Insurance Commissioner to let them know your own personal story.

As I mentioned I plan to testify before the committee when the study is conducted, if you are not able to testify I would be happy to share your stories with the committee.  If you would like to provide your story on how you have benefited from weight loss surgery, your need for surgery, how your facing an exclusion, your battle with obesity, or anything related to your struggles you can email me testimony at [email protected]  .

Your stories would greatly be appreciated and beneficial to all of us who are in this battle to gain coverage to become healthier persons.

thanks,   Chad B.

To find your local Kansas Legislator follow this link: http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-legisportal/redistricting.do

Don't forget to urge everyone you know who have had the surgery or could benefit from the surgery to let their voices be heard as well!!!

To contact the Kansas Health Policy Authority (KHPA) follow this link: http://www.khpa.ks.gov/

To contact Sandy Praeger, the state Insurance Commissioner follow this link: http://www.ksinsurance.org/

To contact Governor Sebelius' Office follow this link: http://www.governor.ks.gov/

I'll do it! Where do I go to testify?

First get ahold of your local legislator and tell them you want them to support bariatric surgery, and you believe the study of House Bill 2672 will show that weight loss surgery is more cost-efficient, and most effective in treating the the commorbidities associated with obesity.  Just let them know your story and your struggle.  You can find your local legislator here: http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-legisportal/redistrictin g.do Then we will find out sometime in the summer when and where we can testify! Cruz