1. Presidential Messages
Teresa LaMasters, MD FACS FASMBS DABOM and Nate Sann, MSN FNP-BC deliver the monthly Presidential Video Message. Hear about the current state of the Society and upcoming events.
ASMBS Presidential Message
ASMBS Integrated Health Presidential Message
2. Education & Events
Enhancing Outcomes Through Combined Therapies
June 25 – 29, 2023
Have You Registered? Early Bird Pricing end: Friday, April 21st! Discounted hotel room rates END on Friday, May 19, 2023.
Please register for the annual meeting before you book our hotel room!
DEADLINE APPROACHING!
APPLY FOR THE ASMBS RESEARCH GRANT AWARD BY APRIL 10TH
Preference will be given to proposals addressing Enhancing Outcomes Through Combined Treatments. Two top awards will be announced in June 2023. Funding is made possible by the ASMBS Foundation. You do not want to miss out in this funding opportunity! If you have questions, please contact:research@asmbs.org
What is BE-SAFE?
BE-SAFE! Stands for Bariatric Endoscopy – Skill Acquisition Focused Evaluation
The next BE-SAFE! hands-on skills verification will be offered at the 2023 ASMBS Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, NV on Monday, June 26th, 2023, from 1:30 – 3:30 PM and 3:30 – 5:00 PM.Register Today!
Upcoming Webinars
- April 7 | The FELLOW Project: Lap Bands: What Are THey and What Do I do with Them?
- April 18 | IH Networking Event
- April 20 | APP Lecture Series: Vitamin B1: The Management and Treatment in Clinical Practice
- April 25 | START Program Open House
- April 27 | The Bariatric Happy Hour! Concomitant hiatal hernia repair during bariatric surgery
3. Committee Updates
Do you want to be more involved with ASMBS? Apply to join a committee here!
The ASMBS gives members an opportunity to be involved in committees that impact research, education, patient access, reimbursement, technologic innovation, communication, and public service.
4. Foundation News
COMING SOON!
5. Advocacy & Access to Care
Proposed changes to the ICD-10-CM obesity code
ICD-10 meetings are in progress and they are considering creating new sub-categories for obesity codes based on obesity class. No major negative implications. If anything, it will help identify more patients who could be eligible for surgery. View the proposal.
- New code E66.811 Obesity, class 1
- New code E66.812 Obesity, class 2
- New code E66.813 Obesity, class 3
- New code E66.89 Other obesity not elsewhere classified
Horizon BCBS NJ Revised Bariatric Policy
Horizon BCBS NJ (2.7 million covered lives) revised their bariatric policy and expanded coverage for BMI 30-35 with Type 2 Diabetes. See the revised policy. (effective March 14th)
Barriers that remain:
- 3 months multi-disciplinary preparatory regimen or 6 months of physician supervised nutrition/exercise program (they don’t mention “weight loss” program)
- SADI-S still not covered
- No consideration for low BMI for Asians or those with BMI 35-40 without comorbidities
Nonetheless, a major positive movement by Horizon!