The effect of insurance status on pre- and post-operative bariatric surgery outcomes.
BACKGROUND
This study compared pre- and post-surgical data and outcomes among gastric bypass patients based on the type of insurance (Medicaid, Medicare, or private).


METHODS
Data were examined from 2553 consecutive RYGB patients at a rural ASMBS Center of Excellence.


RESULTS
Participants were primarily female (80.5 %), Caucasian (97.1 %), and middle-aged (45.9 years). Medicaid patients' BMI at consultation was significantly higher than the other two groups (p < 0.001). Time to surgery was significantly longer for Medicaid (13.2 %) and Medicare (7.1 %) patients compared with privately insured patients (p < 0.001). Pre-surgical weight loss and post-surgical percent of excess weight loss nadir did not differ among the groups. Type 2 diabetes remission rates were comparable across insurance groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Medicaid patients, although demographically different from their privately insured and Medicare counterparts, will benefit from surgery with comparable weight loss results and overall diabetes remission rates.
Department of Psychology, Keiser University, 10330 South Federal Highway, Port Saint Lucie, FL, 34952, USA, sharonmhayes@gmail.com.
Sharon
S
Hayes
Melissa A
MA
Napolitano
Michelle R
MR
Lent
G Craig
GC
Wood
Glenn S
GS
Gerhard
Brian A
BA
Irving
George
G
Argyropoulos
Gary D
GD
Foster
Christopher D
CD
Still
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D015390:Gastric Bypass / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006278:Medicare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology