The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Martha S. Hess.
DIGEST
SB 314 Original 2020 Regular Session Barrow
Proposed law defines "morbid obesity" as a body mass index (BMI) of at least 40 or a BMI of at least
35 along with comorbidity or existing medical conditions such as hypertension, cardiopulmonary
conditions, sleep apnea, or diabetes.
Proposed law requires the Office of Group Benefits to offer a provision stating that benefits shall be
payable for the treatment of morbid obesity through gastric bypass surgery or other methods
recognized by the National Institutes of Health as effective for the long-term reversal of morbid
obesity.
Proposed law provides that 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 the
American Society for Metabolic Bariatric Surgery as a comprehensive bariatric facility.
Effective July 1, 2020.
(Adds R.S. 42:855)