Dear Editor,
I am writing as a retired nurse of over 35 years to get the message out about the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2021. This bi-partisan bill is important for all Americans, not just those affected by obesity.
TROA, as it is known, would expand the range of Medicare coverage to include screening and treatment of obesity from several healthcare providers, all who specialize in this care. The bill would also expand coverage of FDA approved medications for chronic weight management.
Medicare recipients would benefit from this TROA directly. However, because most insurance companies mirror their coverage after Medicare, Americans on all other types of healthcare could benefit as well.
Seeing this epidemic sweep across my country as well as my community has been extremely disheartening. Almost 42% of adults in the U.S. are considered obese, which leaves them vulnerable to many other comorbid conditions.
Heart disease, Type-2 Diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and increased chances of cancer are just a few possible conditions that often follow an obesity diagnosis. About 90% of people with obesity develop Type-2 Diabetes.
These facts are hard to hear, and even harder to treat. The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act has been reintroduced in Congress every year for almost 10 years with no real headway, but that can change with community support. Congress needs to understand what is at stake here, and pass this bill once and for all.
Sincerely,
Lu Jones, RN
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