Breaking News: CMS eliminates "Center of Excellence" requirement

Breaking News:

CMS eliminates "Center of Excellence" requirement for Medicare patients seeking bariatric surgery.

The just released memo: http://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/nca-de cision-memo.aspx?NCAId=266&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govde livery

ASMBS press release on it: http://connect.asmbs.org/index.php?s=20295&item=122426

On the on hand more access is a good thing... on the other safety is always the top priority. We don't want strip mall bariatric surgery centers opening. RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH. Talk to fellow patients. Ask questions, Look at stats. Did I mention RESEARCH ;)

VSG is not listed as a covered procedure. That makes no sense to me. Did I misunderstand?

Read Appendix C for conditions related to laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.