Skip to Main Content

View Public Comments for Bariatric Surgery for the Treatment of Morbid Obesity

Use the browser below to select the Comment Period for which you would like to view the comments for the selected document. You can use the alphabetical links above the results table to jump to comments submitted by a commenter whose last name starts with that letter. Select the ‘Expand All Comments’ link to view all the full comments, and click the ‘Collapse All Comments’ link to view only the abstract for all comments. Select the ‘More’ link in the Comment to view the full text of the specific comment in a new window.
The first (earliest) set of comments are displayed by default in the Public Comment Results section. To view additional Comment Periods, use the radio button options and select the "Submit" button.
An asterisk (*) indicates a required field.

      Select one period.



[87 Comments]
Page 1 of 4
FirstPrev1234NextLast
First character of titleCommenterComment Information
A
Abdel-Majid, Sherri Date: 06/07/2005
Comment:

No one decides to be obese. However, when an
obese makes the life-changing decision to do
something about it, the benefits need to be
there. Bariatric surgery for the treatment of
morbid obesity is expensive, but it's a lot More opens in new window

A
abramowitz, diane Date: 05/28/2005
Comment:

I am horrified that Medicare is considering
covering a procedure that is an unnatural
assault on the human body.
Do not let this happen. Too many people have
already died at the hands of these procedures.
More money should be More opens in new window

A
Adeno, Angela Title: A reality check
Date: 06/17/2005
Comment:

I notice most of the patients here who are singing the praises of bariatric surgery are less than 2 or 3 years post surgery (or pre op). What few statistics are available on people 10 years post op and over are not near so rosy as those in the More opens in new window

A
Albright, Deborah Date: 06/04/2005
Comment:

I am opposed to Medicare funding for bariatric
surgery. Little to no research has been done on
the long term effect of such surgery. I have lost
over 10 friends to bariatric surgery, some on the
table and others years later. In years More opens in new window

A
Alexander, Edd Organization: representing myself as an individual
Date: 06/02/2005
Comment:

I opposed federal funding of bariatric surgery and
ask that you no recommend such coverage. Side
effects of such surgery include a dramatically
higher death rate than other sugeries, high risk
of additional surgeries, as well as More opens in new window

A
Allison, Michelle Title: Food Services Supervisor
Organization: University Health Network - Toronto, ON, Canada
Date: 05/28/2005
Comment:

I don't understand why bariatric surgery should be covered under insurance when, in the majority of cases, visits to Registered Dietitians are not covered. People can also get a tax credit for using weight loss services such as Weight Watchers, More opens in new window

A
Allison, Michelle Organization: University Health Network
Date: 06/07/2005
Comment:

I want to add that most people commenting here whooppose the surgery, myself included, are FATPEOPLE. Anyone who thinks that we are prejudicedagainst the surgery because we don't understandwhat it is like to exist as a fat person iskidding More opens in new window

B
Babine, Deborah Title: US Citizen
Date: 06/04/2005
Comment:

Morbid and super morbid obesity are serious illnesses. They require serious attention. I have seen a lot of comments from people who have relied on hearsay. I have researched bariatric surgery for 4 years. The mortality rate is less than 2% More opens in new window

B
Bates, Don Title: Director of Patient Financial Services
Organization: Mesquite Community Hospital
Date: 05/25/2005
Comment:

CMS should define the list of comorbid conditions
that qualify a patient for bariatric surgery. In
addition, CMS should adopt criteria for
facilities and surgeons who deliver these
procedures (including 23 hour lap band More opens in new window

B
Belveal Davis, MS, RN, Angela Title: Registered Nurse
Date: 06/04/2005
Comment:

I whole heartedly support payment of weight loss
surgery (WLS) for the morbidly obese.
Comorbidities of obesity are costly and bring
suffering and enormous expense to all involved.
WLS is the only research proven, successful More opens in new window

B
Bernier, Melissa Date: 06/04/2005
Comment:

Cover IT!!! It is unbelievable how many people
here posting against have thier FACTS completely
and utterly wrong. WLS does not have a HUGE
mortality rate, WLS does not have a HUGE failure
rate - it has a large SUCCESS rate - if More opens in new window

B
Bernstein, Edward Title: Executive Director
Organization: NAASO, The Obesity Society
Date: 06/24/2005
Comment:

NAASO, The Obesity SocietyComments on Coverage Review of Bariatric Surgery

Re: NCA Tracking Sheet for Bariatric Surgery for the Treatment of Morbid Obesity (CAG-00250R)

Thank you for the opportunity to make comments regarding the NCD More opens in new window

B
Boston, Trina Title: Director of Clinical Affairs
Date: 05/26/2005
Comment:

Bariatric surgery has a 1:200 risk of mortality. New data reveals that approximately 80% of patients regain their weight within 5 years post bariatric surgery. The silicone lap band procedure results in such significant post-op More opens in new window

B
Brigan, Kell Organization: Personal. Like, a taxpayer?
Date: 06/01/2005
Comment:

Let's see. At least 50% of the people who
have "weight loss" (and regain) surgery are still
fat two years after the surgery. The death rates
are between 2 and 20 percent, depending upon
procedure and whether or not the deaths More opens in new window

B
Brilla, L. Title: Professor
Date: 06/06/2005
Comment:

Lifestyle interventions should be the source of
treatment: EXERCISE! Pay for programs that add
physical atcivity back into people's More opens in new window

B
Brown, Tonya Title: Housewife and Mother
Date: 06/04/2005
Comment:

All of you who oppose this surgery, have ANY of you actually seen a fat 90 year old? No, you haven't, because obesity kills more people than the surgery does. If you add up what the government would pay for treatment of obesity related ailments, More opens in new window

B
Bubble, Blue Date: 06/04/2005
Comment:

For the love of God. If you are going to comment on this site, KNOW THE FACTS BEFOREHAND.

If you are able to post a comment that means you have access to the internet. RESEARCH PEOPLE. Visit the message boards on the net. You will find More opens in new window

C
Calarco, Deidre Date: 05/29/2005
Comment:

Is there evidence that this procedure increases
life expectancy, or even (with all the side
effects and associated deaths) improves their
long term health? No. I wouldn't be surprised
if weight loss surgery increases long term More opens in new window

C
Campbell, M. Barbara Organization: IPMR
Date: 06/09/2005
Comment:

The Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (IPMR) has a successful and well established weight management program in collaboration with the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. The majority of our patients are over More opens in new window

C
chatfield, christy Date: 06/01/2005
Comment:

As an American who is deeply concerned about the
welfare of my fellow Americans, I would like to
say that I am strongly opposed to the Government
coverage of gastric bypass surgery.

This is a dangerous procedure with horrific More opens in new window

C
Collura, Barbara Date: 05/24/2005
Comment:

Should CMS define the list of comorbid conditions
that qualify a patient for bariatric surgery?
Yes, there should be a clearer comorbidity list
than what is provided.
Should CMS adopt criteria for facilities or
surgeons who More opens in new window

C
Cope, Jennifer Organization: Obesityhelp.com We are the true voice
Date: 06/04/2005
Comment:

I think that if you have never been overweight you should have no say...period! Its an individual decision and if you don't live with morbid obesity than you have no idea what it's like. I hear everyone addressing the bad and not the More opens in new window

D
Davis, Carrie Date: 06/05/2005
Comment:

I definitly think that bariatric surgery along with other treatments for morbid obesity should be a covered benefit. Morbid Obesity is a disease and anyone with a disease deserves treatment. If people don't believe it's a disease they should try More opens in new window

E
Evans, Crystal Date: 06/07/2005
Comment:

I do not believe that Medicaid should cover WLS.
More research that documents the long-term
effects of the surgery should be done before
taxpayer money is More opens in new window

F
Ferguson, Robin Date: 06/08/2005
Comment:

Please allow your consumers an opportunity to
have Bariatric Surgery. Medicare will save so
much money in the long run, because the
consumers will be able to get off of many
medications, have healthier lives and have great More opens in new window

Page 1 of 4
FirstPrev1234NextLast
92