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New Medicare Benefit: Weight-Loss Counseling

December 1, 2011

Want to lose weight? If you have a body-mass index of 30 or more and are on Medicare, you can now get weight-loss counseling for no cost, reports MedPage Today. You’ll get one session a week for the first month and then meetings every other week for the next five months.

Additional monthly sessions will be covered for up to six months afterward if the beneficiary has lost at least 6.6 pounds (3 kg) during the first six months. …

Counseling must take place in a primary care setting such as a physician’s office. It will not be covered when provided in skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, emergency departments, outpatient surgery centers, or hospices.

The article, “Medicare Will Pay for Obesity Counseling,” says not everyone is happy about this development. Some are concerned about the extra money being spent, and some wonder whether it will work.

Are you interested in the weight-loss counseling, or do you think it might be good for your senior parents?

Leigh Ann Otte is a freelance writer who specializes in health and aging issues. She covers finding and paying for senior care for OurParents.

2 Comments leave one →
  1. February 20, 2012 4:45 am

    Ola! Leigh Ann Otte,
    On a similar note,, Yoga has become a prominent part of many popular workout routines. It’s commonly touted as a cure for everything from stiff joints to breathing problems. But will yoga help you lose weight?
    Catch you again soon!

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