Medicare to Cover Obesity Prevention Services

Under the new benefit, Medicare beneficiaries are eligible to receive free obesity screenings, and individuals identified as obese (BMI of 30 kg/m2 or greater) are also eligible for free obesity counseling in primary care settings. The counseling consists of weekly face-to-face sessions with a primary care provider for the first month and bi-monthly face-to-face sessions for the next five months. Individuals who lose at least six-and-a-half pounds of weight over this period will also qualify for an additional six months of counseling. The counseling services covered under the benefit include diet assessments, behavioral counseling, and behavioral therapy. However, weight-loss medications will not be reimbursed.