Dear Administrator Oz:
We, the undersigned organizations, are writing to urge you to include access for Medicare recipients to evidence-based obesity treatments such as intensive behavioral therapy (IBT) and Food & Drug Administration (FDA) - approved obesity medications in an upcoming proposed rule. Doing so will enable the Medicare program to align with the current medical evidence, standards of care, and scientific understanding that obesity is a chronic disease.
Obesity is a treatable chronic disease that plays a major factor in many other conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, fatty liver disease, kidney disease, lipid disorders, certain cancers, sleep apnea, arthritis, and mental illness. The treatment of obesity requires a comprehensive approach including IBT, FDA-approved obesity medications, and metabolic and bariatric surgery as determined by a health care professional.
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