A new Arkansas state law that took effect Jan. 1 will expand access to bariatric surgery by requiring many health insurance plans to cover medically necessary treatment for severe obesity.
Supporters say Arkansas Act 628 will reduce financial barriers for eligible patients across the state. It requires health care plans offered, issued, renewed, delivered or extended in Arkansas to cover medically necessary treatments for severe obesity, including bariatric surgery, revision procedures, and related preoperative and postoperative care. This represents an important step for Arkansans who are unable to afford treatment on their own. The law does not require coverage for weight-loss medications.
Bariatric surgery has been widely recognized as effective for managing obesity and obesity-related conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and sleep apnea, but has often been excluded from insurance coverage…