Dear Colleagues,

As you know, CMS recently published a proposed decision memo which will LIMIT Medicare sleeve gastrectomy coverage to only a randomized control trial basis for five years. We need your help NOW to provide full Medicare coverage for Sleeve Gastrectomy. Lack of CMS coverage for sleeve gastrectomy may potentially imperil future commercial coverage.

We have reached a critical time for public response to the proposed Medicare ruling on whether the Sleeve Gastrectomy will be covered. We need as many comments to CMS as possible before thedeadline on April 28, 2012. The evidence in support of coverage is strong, and you need to make sure your voice is heard.

Access the formal response of the ASMBS here: ASMBS Response to CMS Sleeve Coverage Decision
Access the formal response of the ACS here: ACS Response to CMS Sleeve Coverage Decision 

A sample comment is provided here that you can copy, revise, and paste into the comment box: Sample Comment

To post a comment please go to: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Website - Submit a Formal Comment

Remember the “CMS PHI Posting Policy” link below MUST be clicked on and the policy read before the “I have read and understand…” checkbox can be checked. None of the data entry fields will be enabled until the policy is read and the checkbox selected.

Click here to view 400+ comments

PS - Get your patients involved too – they can use the Obesity Action Coalition’s A Patient’s Guide to Advocating for Improved Access to Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery under Medicare  to help them make comments.

Robin Blackstone, MD, FACS, FASMBS
President, American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

John Morton, MD, FACS, FASMBS
Access to Care Chair, American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

Jaime Ponce, MD, FACS, FASMBS
President-Elect, American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

Ninh Nguyen, MD, FACS, FASMBS
Secretary-Treasurer, American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

Matthew Brengman, MD
Insurance Chair, American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery