HYDE-SMITH RE-UPS SUPPORT FOR BILL TO COMBAT OBESITY EPIDEMIC

HYDE-SMITH RE-UPS SUPPORT FOR BILL TO COMBAT OBESITY EPIDEMIC

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) has renewed her support for legislation to prevent diseases associated with obesity through expanded coverage of new health care specialists and chronic weight management medications for Medicare recipients.

Hyde-Smith has again cosponsored the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA), which was reintroduced by U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) on Thursday. Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, also cosponsored the bipartisan measure in the 117th and 118th Congress.

"Obesity remains a stubborn problem in Mississippi, though I do believe we're making progress in addressing the issue. This is a sensible bill that would provide new tools to combat this health epidemic," Hyde-Smith said.

"Obesity shortens your life," said Dr. Cassidy. "We have an opportunity to treat it through Medicare. Let's do it."

The TROA would strengthen the effort to combat the life-threatening diseases caused by comorbidities associated with obesity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the leading causes of preventable death in the United States are associated with obesity, including heart disease, stroke, type II diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Mississippi's adult obesity rate is one of the highest in the nation.

TROA would expand Medicare to cover evidence-based obesity treatment options by:

• Allowing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to expand Medicare Part D coverage to include FDA-approved anti-obesity medications; and
• Expanding the Intensive Behavioral Therapy (IBT) benefit by allowing additional types of qualified healthcare providers to offer these services.

The American Diabetes Association, American Psychological Association, American Society for Nutrition, Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists, Black Woman's Health Imperative, Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition, National Council on Aging, National Kidney Foundation, Trust for America's Health, and YMCA of the USA are among the dozens of organizations that have endorsed TROA.

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