The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Christopher D. Adams.
DIGEST
SB 173 Original 2015 Regular Session Heitmeier
Proposed law provides for health insurance coverage for the treatment of morbid obesity.
Proposed law defines "body mass index" to mean a practical marker used to assess the degree of
obesity and is calculated by dividing the weight in kilograms by the height in meters squared.
Proposed law defines "morbid obesity" to mean either:
(a)A body mass index equal to or greater than forty kilograms per meter squared.
(b)A body mass index equal to or greater than thirty-five kilograms per meter squared along
with an associated comorbidity including but not limited to hypertension, cardiopulmonary
conditions, sleep apnea, or diabetes.
Proposed law provides any hospital, health, or medical expense insurance policy, hospital or medical
service contract, health and accident insurance policy, or any other contract of this type providing
comprehensive major medical benefits, including a group insurance plan, or any policy of family
group, blanket, or association health and accident insurance, a self-insurance plan, an employee
welfare benefit plan, or a health maintenance organization subscriber agreement which is issued or
renewed in this state on or after October 1, 2015, the office of group benefits programs, or,
notwithstanding the provisions of present law, any prepaid entity that participates in the Louisiana
Medicaid Program shall provide coverage for the medically necessary expenses of the diagnosis and
treatment of morbid obesity, including but not limited to bariatric surgery, physician office visits,
health and behavior assessments, nutrition education, patient self-management education and
training, and therapeutic exercises.
Proposed law provides the coverage required pursuant to proposed law for bariatric surgery shall be
limited to facilities of surgical services that are accredited by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program of the American College of Surgeons and
American Society of Metabolic Bariatric Surgery as a comprehensive bariatric facility.
Effective October 1, 2015.
(Adds R.S. 22:1055)