Surgery in Alabama not covered by insurance?

I heard tonight on a newscast that the lapband surgery will not be covered in Alabama..any thoughts as to why?

I have a gastric bypass news update sent to my email through yahoo. My understanding is that BCBS of Alabama is going to stop paying for it bypass/etc. while they try and figure out some kind of guidelines to set for the surgery due to the overwhelmng demand for the surgery. (IE: Like a supervised diet etc...) ~TamiB~

My theory is that there are a lot of people out there that feel that the rny is too radical for them. If they knew about the lapband and it was covered by insurance then they would be rushing to their surgeon's offices by the thousands.

http://www.bcbsal.com/providers/policies/final/053.pdf (this is the BCBS final policy change regarding WLS in Alabama) - says that the lap band surgery is considered by BCBS to be an "investigational" procedure. see pages 3 and 7, specifically. one of the leading surgeons for RNY laproscopic surgery, Dr. Ronald Clements at UAB/Kirklin Clinic, is now also doing lap band surgery. their office says self-pay is about $20-$25k.