Mississippi To Pay For Gastric Baypass?

Mississippi Senate Senate revives a proposal that would use state health insurance to pay for gastric bypass surgery for up to 100 obese government workers a year. POLL

by The Associated Press

Published: Wed, March 11, 2009 - 2:29 pm CST Last Updated: Wed, March 11, 2009 - 2:38 pm CST

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The Mississippi Senate on Wednesday
revived a bill for state-funded gastric bypass surgery, then passed
the bill and sent it to the governor.
The proposal authorizes the public employees' health insurance
plan to pay for gastric bypass surgery for up to 100 obese state
government workers a year.
Mississippi has the highest obesity rate in the nation.
The bill was defeated Tuesday, but Sen. Terry Burton held it for
more debate. He told lawmakers that the surgery costs about
$26,000. He said that compares to between $44,000 and $100,000
spent on heart procedures many obese state employees may have to
undergo.
The bill passed the House earlier.
----
The bill is House Bill 1530.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Emlee Says:

Tue, Mar 17, 2009 at 8:02 am

I am overweight - my weight problem is caused by not excersing and eating too much..now if these obese people have a health problem that makes it impossible for them to lose wieght without the surgery, then surgery may be the only answer for them but most of us just need to cut the calories on our plates and exercies…but mostly just quit overeating…we eat way too much and too much of the wrong foods

4him4ever Says:

Thu, Mar 12, 2009 at 8:26 am

So, why should taxpayers pay to make an overweight person skinny?? Were we the ones who put the Big Mac in their mouth?? I think that Gastric Bypass surgery is awesome for overweight people who need to make themselves healthier but don’t make everyone else pay for what they did to themselves!! If you can’t afford it, you can lose weight and be healthy without the xpensive surgery!! Prove it?? Watch “The Biggest Loser!” It’s possible!!

Gay Power Says:

Wed, Mar 11, 2009 at 9:29 pm

BREAKING NEWS: Before you judge Mississippi on this issue, you must see the video below.

It was taken by a hidden camera outside the Mississippi Capital.

Please watch the ENTIRE video.

The people of Mississippi are suffering.

We must help them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B81Srse-ayE

BamaBob Says:

Wed, Mar 11, 2009 at 8:02 pm

So, Mississippi wants to tax smokers and pay to fix fat people. Is that about right?

Why not just make fat people smoke and get rid of both problems?

(I’m being sarcastic)

Wait4Me Says:

Wed, Mar 11, 2009 at 6:34 pm

Ickthus, no need to buy that bucket o chicken, just clean and fry the loser.

KxVicious Says:

Wed, Mar 11, 2009 at 3:19 pm

Yes, and if there was a $10 tax on that bucket of chicken. . .

ickthus Says:

Wed, Mar 11, 2009 at 3:06 pm

just make them pay for it. you can’t eat if you don’t have the money for the bucket of kfc every nite.

KxVicious Says:

Wed, Mar 11, 2009 at 2:45 pm

If you can just follow the diet required with gastric bypass you will lose the weight.

Only difference, is with the surgery, if you don’t follow the diet and over eat you’ll throw up, and we ALL know how bad that is…

mustuknow Says:

Wed, Mar 11, 2009 at 2:43 pm

As a post gastric bypass patient I say it is well worth every penny. There are many benefits to the surgery. A few months ago Dateline did a program where 10 people who were diabetic and took multiple units of insulin a day had the surgery. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM had their diabetes reveresed with the surgery. It has something to do with bypassing the duodendum of the intestines.

I wish that every health insurance had to pay for the surgery. In the long run they would save money.