JPS Health Network to consider covering weight-loss surgery

Poor patients would be able to have surgery to limit the amount of food they can consume, under a proposal to the board of the JPS Health Network.

Bariatric surgery, such as Lap-Band and other brands, would not be immediately available. Instead, JPS plans to phase the surgery in after selected patients enrolled in the network?s low-cost health plan, Connection, go through counseling on diet and nutrition. But by offering the operation, JPS hopes to reduce the cost of treating diabetes, heart and liver issues associated with obesity. Click here for full article.