Obesity gets an 'upgrade'
2004-07-15 22:43
Washington - Calling obesity a critical public health problem in the United States, health and human services secretary Tommy Thompson on Thursday announced a new policy plan that might pave the way for anti-obesity programmes to be covered by health insurance.
The new policy removed language that said obesity was not an illness, allowing patients to ask that obesity treatments be covered by Medicare, government-backed health insurance for retired and disabled people.
"Obesity is a critical public health problem that causes millions of Americans unnecessary health problems and to die prematurely," Thompson told a senate subcommittee.
"With this new policy, Medicare will be able to review scientific evidence in order to determine which interventions improve health outcomes for seniors and disabled Americans who are obese and its many associated medical conditions.
The United States has one of the highest rates of obese people in the world.
- SAPA