HJAR May/Jun 2022

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  MAY / JUN 2022 57 Samuel Bledsoe, MD, FACS, FASMBS Bariatric and Metabolic Institute Arkansas Heart Hospital our leaders in Little Rock and Washington can do to further the fight. The most glar- ing is to expand coverage and availability for behavioral, medical, pharmaceutical, and surgical options for those wrestling with obesity. Currently, there is a bipartisan bill in Congress that will help expand some of those options. The Treat and Reduce Obe- sityAct (S.596) will expandMedicare benefits to allow for intensive behavioral counseling through the community setting and through additional healthcare providers. In addition, it would allow for expanded coverage for FDA-approved prescription medications for weight loss. Since private insurance compa- nies model their coverage after Medicare, these changes would likely trickle down and potentially lead to increased coverage for all Americans. Of note, Senator John Boozman of Arkansas is a co-sponsor of this legislation. Obesity is a chronic disease that can contribute to the development of many additional medical problems including heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea. We all have friends and loved ones who are fighting the scale. While it is sober- ing to see the health statistics in our nation and state, the future looks better when we all work together to assist those who struggle with their weight. n Having grown up in Rogers,Arkansas, and having re- ceived amedical degree fromUAMS,Samuel Bledsoe, MD, returned to his roots to lead the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute at Arkansas Heart Hospital. He now also serves asmedical director ofArkansas Heart Hospital Encore Medical Center. Bledsoe completed residency at the Baptist Health System in Birmingham,Alabama,and completed ad- ditional training in Bariatric Surgery at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. In addition to other lead- ership positions, he previously served as the medi- cal director for Bariatric Surgery at Christus Cabrini Medical Center in Alexandria, Louisiana. Bledsoe is a Fellow of theAmerican Society for Meta- bolic and Bariatric Surgery and of the American Col- lege of Surgeons. “The public doesn’t seem to recognize the genetic roots of obesity nor see the havoc that a person’s environment can cause. When you see obesity as purely a self-control issue, there is a tendency to shame those who suffer and offer myriad impossible or unhelpful solutions. When you see obesity as a chronic disease, the response is support, and the solutions become more helpful.” state. The final analysis was compelling. In November of 2021, the “Segal Report” was finalized and documented the cost sav- ings to the plan associated with bariatric surgery. To summarize the report, when an insured member had bariatric surgery, the State of Arkansas saved approximately $300 per member per month compared to their pre-surgery costs. This was due primarily to a 45% decrease in medical costs for that individual. ER visits and prescriptions were down 38% and 22%, respectively. The “Segal Report”ultimately recommended that Arkan- sas formally adopt bariatric coverage and lift restrictions to access, stating “there is a clear, clinical and financial benefit to reducing the burden of chronic disease.” Wisely, the legislators passed SB87, which incorporated all of the recommenda- tions. This bill was signed by Governor Asa Hutchinson on March 2, 2022. While the bill has not yet taken effect, it is exciting to see that our state leaders are taking the health of its citizens seriously. We’re thrilled about the passage of this new legislation, yet there is still much work to be done in the state and across the coun- try to help those who struggle with obesity. Perhaps the single biggest hurdle is educating the public about the disease of obesity. The public doesn’t seem to recognize the genetic roots of obesity nor see the havoc that a per- son’s environment can cause. When you see obesity as purely a self-control issue, there is a tendency to shame those who suffer and of- fer myriad impossible or unhelpful solutions. When you see obesity as a chronic disease, the response is support, and the solutions become more helpful. Of course, there are additional things that