February 16, 2013

Obesity Counseling Available for People on Medicare


Are you over the age of 65 and have a lot of weight to lose? If so, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finally has a program in place that may be of help. The program is for overweight people that fit this - defined as a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2. You must be able to lose at least 1.1 pounds per month in the first six months to qualify for the second six months. The total weight that must be lost in the first six months is 3 kg or 6 pounds, 9,82 ounces. Read this information and then talk to your primary care provider about who you will need to see if it is not this provider.

If you have to compute your body mass index (BMI) you may use this BMI Calculator. Then you may use this ideal weight calculator to determine what your ideal weight range should be. Then if you want to see what the lower limits (disregarding body frame size) should be, check out this calculator.

To qualify, it is appropriate for individuals entitled to benefits under Part A or enrolled under Part B and is recommended with a grade of A or B by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). This is the first time CMS has attempted to get this right by having providers work with you for up to one year. This applies to the frequency of consultations and the length of time.

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