Anger Erupts Over Insurance Company's IQ Test for Weight-Loss Surgery

[Wayne_Zitkus]

I usually make a comment before I post a news article, but this story has left me speechless.

Anger Erupts Over Insurance Company's IQ Test for Weight-Loss Surgery

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

By Hannah Sentenac

When a 330-pound Pam Davis underwent gastric bypass surgery five years ago, her main concern was to save her own life so she could be there for her children.

Nowhere along the line did a doctor or an insurance company question whether she had the "intelligence" necessary to make the decision about having the surgery to help her lose weight and reclaim her health.

Now, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is requiring patients prove just that.

In April 2006, the company introduced a controversial new stipulation, requiring IQ screening for all morbidly obese patients looking to undergo gastric bypass surgery.

According to a 2006 report by Trust for America's Health, Tennessee was ranked the nation's sixth heaviest state, with adult obesity rates of 26.6 percent.

During the potentially life-saving procedure, doctors staple part of the patient's stomach, which reduces the amount of food eaten, often leading to drastic weight loss.

Many insurance companies, including BlueCross, have agreed to cover the cost of all or part of the operation for qualifying patients. Recent years have seen growing numbers of patients requesting the procedure, putting an additional burden on these organizations.

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http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,246519,00.html

 

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