August 2022 Edition
1. Presidential Messages
Teresa LaMasters, MD FACS FASMBS DABOM and Nate Sann, MSN FNP-BC deliver their monthly Presidential Video Message. Hear about the current state of the Society and upcoming events.
ASMBS Presidential Message
This video has been archived.
ASMBS Integrated Health Presidential Message
This video has been archived.
2. Education & Events
Postoperative nausea and vomiting in bariatric surgery: a position statement endorsed by the ASMBS and the ISPCOP
To read the position statement,click here.
Coming Soon! ASMBS/IFSO Indications for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
In 1991 the National Institutes of Health published a Statement on gastrointestinal surgery for severe obesity, based on expert opinion and medical knowledge available at the time, which has served providers, insurers, hospitals, and patients as a standard for indications for bariatric surgery.
Since then, over the past 30 years, there have been significant advances in the understanding of the disease of obesity, its management in general, and metabolic and bariatric surgery specifically. The leaderships of ASMBS and IFSO have convened to update the 1991 NIH Consensus Statement, and produce a joint statement on the current available scientific information on metabolic and bariatric surgery and its indications.
ASMBS track at IFSO’s 25th World Congress in Miami!
IFSO 2022 25th World Congress will take place in Miami, Florida August 23 -27, 2022. Preconference Registration closes on August 19, 2022.
Fellowship Training Certificate Applications Now Accepted through October 1, 2022
The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) President, Teresa LaMasters, MD, FACS, DABOM, FASMBS, and Bariatric Surgery Training Committee Chair, Adrian Dan, MD, are pleased to announce the 2022-2023 Fellowship Certificate Program for graduates of a Fellowship Council accredited program.
Please submit the completed application form and all accompanying documentation electronically, in a single PDF document to Morgan@asmbs.org. Applicants will receive an electronic confirmation email within 48 hours of submission. If you do not receive this email confirmation, please feel free to contact ASMBS at 352-331-4900 x121.
For Details on How to Apply,Click Here.
ASMBS Weekend 2022
Mark your calendars for ASMBS Weekend 2022!
Join us for a weekend of fun, learning, and networking in historic San Antonio, Texas.
Registration Opening Soon!
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3. Committee Updates
“Pros of Private Equity” video
Watch Dr. Garber, ASMBS Community/Independent Practice Committee member, discuss the pros of private equity. Check back in September to learn about the cons of private equity.
Integrated Health Committee Highlight
Congratulations are in order for the IH Membership Committee for being named the 2021-2022 IH Committee of the year under the leadership of Heidi Bednarchuck, MSN APRN CNS, where the current chair, Kristin Kampratch, MPAS PA-C served as co-chair.
Did you miss the IH Happy Hour Meet & Greet? No need to worry. The IH Membership committee and IH Leadership plan to host other virtual events to hear from IH members and provide networking opportunities. Stay tuned!
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4. Membership News
Do you have an idea for a webinar?
The Integrated Health Communication Committee is looking for your ideas! Do you have a topic that you feel will benefit other integrated health professionals? Are you a new member looking for speaking opportunities? Complete the IH webinar proposal form and work with the IH Communications Committee to bring your ideas to life.
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5. Advocacy & Access to Care
OCC August 2022 Advocacy Report
Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) becomes 21st Senate TROA Cosponsor!
Wisconsin Group Insurance Board Punts on AOM State Employee Coverage
See the latestObesity Care Contiuum Advocacy Report
Payer Coverage Grid Update August 2022 (Provided by Ethicon/JNJ)
To view update, click here.
BCBS HCSC (17 million covered lives across IL, MT, NM, OK TX) has published its draft policy
The comment period ended August 1st. We asked members from those states to comment on the gaps.
Major change from the previous policy:
HCSC is open to expanding coverage for those with racial/ethnic considerations with Type 2 Diabetes and BMI of 32.5 to 35. This is a euphemism for Asians but good that they are leaning towards including this language.
“Individual consideration of other factors such as race/ethnicity may be given to adult patients with type 2 diabetes and a BMI 32.5 to 35 kg/m2 requesting bariatric surgery.”
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina(~2 million covered lives)
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina becomes the first insurance company to cover “One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass using Billroth II gastrojejunostomy with gastric partitioning.” As expected, recommended CPT code is 43659 (Unlisted laparoscopy procedure, stomach). See policy.
Highlights of change:
“BCBS NC has been a pioneer in its coverage of ASMBS recognized procedures. Kudos to the Society for this positive development.” – Santosh Agarwal, Medtronic
Cigna published its 2022 policy with some minor changes on SADI-S coding
Cigna now allows 4 CPT codes to report SADI-S. Two codes are retained from the previous policy:
Two codes have been added:
One code has been removed:
