American Obesity Association Hails Medicare Decision

WASHINGTON, July 15, 2004 — The American Obesity Association (AOA) today hailed the decision by the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Secretary Tommy Thompson, to eliminate Medicare policy that said obesity is not a disease.

AOA President Richard Atkinson, M.D. said, "The decision by Medicare recognizes that obesity is not simply a cosmetic issue. It is a disease in its own right. In fact, obesity is the most prevalent, fatal, chronic disease of the 21st Century. This decision will open the door not only for better insurance coverage but more medical research and increased education on obesity at the nation’s medical and other health schools."

Over 60% of the United States population are overweight and about 30% are obese; 37% of the Medicare population are overweight and 18% are obese. Between 1991 and 1998, the prevalence of obesity among persons age 60 to 69 increased 45%.

According to Medicare’s own data, five of the top ten self-reported health conditions of Medicare beneficiaries are obesity-related: hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, stroke and some cancers. "The recognition of obesity as a disease," says AOA Vice President Judy Stern, Sc.D., R.D. "will encourage employers and managed care companies to cover appropriate treatments. It marks a new chapter in the fight against obesity."

The AOA is a non-profit advocacy and educational organization. Recognition of obesity as a disease is a central goal of the group, founded in 1995. The AOA previously obtained recognition of obesity as a disease by the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security Administration. It has worked to expand research on obesity at the National Institutes of Health where research funding on obesity has increased from approximately $97 million in 1997 to an expected $440 million in 2005. Most recently, the group has been bringing together pharmaceutical companies and the Food and Drug Administration to set new standards for future drugs to treat obesity. More information about the AOA is available in the About AOA section of this web site.

The effort to change Medicare policy started at a conference on reimbursement, held in April 2001, hosted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. AOA Executive Director Morgan Downey’s presentation focused on the reasons why obesity should be considered a disease and was critical of the Medicare policy, which stated that obesity was not an illness. A representative from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) was in attendance and interested in the policy. In September 2001, the CDC formally asked CMS for a review of their policy. "Government processes can be slow," said Downey, "but they also can work."