A recent change in TRICARE policy now allows you to offer your TRICARE patients fighting morbid obesity the option of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (Lap-Band surgery). Patients 100 pounds or more over their ideal body weight with certain associated severe medical conditions, as well as those who weigh 200 percent or more of their ideal body weight, may be eligible for the procedure.
This policy change is retroactive to Feb. 1, 2007. For more information on surgery for morbid obesity, go to Chapter 4, Section 13.2 of the
TRICARE Policy Manual.
