This policy is designed to address medical guidelines that are appropriate for the majority of individuals with a particular disease, illness, or condition. Each person's unique clinical circumstances may warrant individual consideration, based on review of applicable medical records.

The following bariatric procedures may be considered medically necessary for the surgical treatment of morbid obesity when ALL of the patient selection criteria are met. Bariatric surgery should be performed in appropriately selected patients by surgeons who are adequately trained and experienced in the specific techniques used and in institutions that support a comprehensive bariatric surgery program, including long-term monitoring and follow-up post-surgery.  

• Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding using an FDA-approved adjustable gastric band; or
• Biliopancreatic bypass with duodenal switch or open procedure (for members with a BMI of 50 kg/m2 or greater; or
• Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RY-GBP) (aka gastric bypass surgery) open procedure or laparoscopic; or
• Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy or open procedure
  • Sleeve gastrectomy is an eligible procedure as a first stage of a two-stage procedure; or as a sole definitive procedure.
  • For high BMI patients in whom the duodenal switch may be difficult, it is reasonable to do a sleeve gastrectomy as the first stage of an intended two-stage duodenal switch. This does permit subsequent assessment of both the efficacy of the sleeve (to see whether the second stage is really needed), or assessment of the compliance of the patient (to see whether the more complicated procedure is justified), or to examine the metabolic and nutritional effects of the sleeve (to see whether potential further metabolic derangements of the duodenal switch would make it unadvisable). 

Patient Selection Criteria for Adults

• The patient is morbidly obese and is at least 18 years of age.
  Morbid obesity is defined as a condition of consistent and uncontrollable weight gain that is characterized by a weight which is at least 100 lbs. or 100% over ideal weight or a BMI of at least 40 or a BMI of 35 with ANY ONE or more of the following comorbidities:
  • Medically refractory hypertension (blood pressure greater than 140 mmHg systolic and/or 90 mmHg diastolic despite concurrent use of 3 anti-hypertensive agents of different classes); or
  • Cardiovascular heart disease (with objective documentation by exercise stress test, radionuclide stress test, pharmacologic stress test, stress echocardiography, CT angiography, coronary angiography, heart failure or prior myocardial infarction); or
  • Hyperlipidemia; or
  • Diabetes mellitus type II; or
  • Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); or
  • Obesity-hypoventilation syndrome (OHS); or
  • Pickwickian syndrome ( a combination of OSA and OHS); or
  • Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); or
  • Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
• Patients should have documented failure to respond to conservative measures for weight reduction prior to consideration of bariatric surgery, and these attempts should be reviewed by the practitioner prior to seeking approval for the surgical procedure. As a result, some centers require active participation in a formal weight reduction program that includes frequent documentation of weight, dietary regimen, and exercise. However, there is a lack of evidence on the optimal timing, intensity and duration of nonsurgical attempts at weight loss, and whether a medical weight loss program immediately preceding surgery improves outcomes.
• The patient must complete a psychological evaluation performed by a licensed mental health care professional and be recommended for bariatric surgery. The patient's medical record documentation should indicate that all psychosocial issues have been identified and addressed; and
• Patient selection is a critical process requiring psychiatric evaluation and a multidisciplinary team approach. The member's understanding of the procedure and ability to participate and comply with life-long follow-up and the life-style changes (e.g., changes in dietary habits, and beginning an exercise program) are necessary to the success of the procedure.

If the patient does not meet ALL of the patient selection criteria for bariatric surgery, the procedure will be denied as not medically necessary.

Patient Selection Criteria for Adolescents

The eligible bariatric surgical procedures listed above unless otherwise specified are covered for members under the age of 18 years when they meet ALL of the following patient selection criteria:

• Attainment or near-attainment of physiologic/skeletal maturity at approximately, age 13 in girls and 15 for boys. (The patient has attained Tanner 4 pubertal development and final or near-final adult height (e.g., 95 % or greater) of adult stature); and
• The patient is morbidly obese defined as a BMI greater than 50 or severely obese defined as a BMI greater than 40 with ANY ONE or more obesity-related comorbidities:
  • Hypertension; or
  • insulin resistance; or
  • glucose intolerance; or
  • dyslipidemia; or
  • clinically significant obstructive sleep apnea; or  
  • substantially impaired quality of life or activities of daily living; or
• A BMI between 35-40 in addition to ONE or more serious obesity related comorbidities;
  • type II  diabetes; or
  • moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (apnea-hypopnea index greater than 15); or
  • pseudotumor cerebri; or
  • severe nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
• Patients should have documented failure to respond to conservative measures for weight reduction prior to consideration of bariatric surgery, and these attempts should be reviewed by the practitioner prior to seeking approval for the surgical procedure. As a result, some centers require active participation in a formal weight reduction program that includes frequent documentation of weight, dietary regimen, and exercise. However, there is a lack of evidence on the optimal timing, intensity and duration of nonsurgical attempts at weight loss, and whether a medical weight loss program immediately preceding surgery improves outcomes.
• The patient must complete a psychological evaluation performed by a licensed mental health care professional and be recommended for bariatric surgery. The patient's medical record documentation should indicate that all psychosocial issues have been identified and addressed; and
• The patient must be able to show decisional capacity and maturity in the psychological evaluation and provide informed assent for surgical management; and
• The patient must be capable and willing to adhere to nutritional guidelines postoperatively; and
• The patient must have a supportive and committed family environment; and
• Patient selection is a critical process requiring psychiatric evaluation and a multidisciplinary team approach. The member's understanding of the procedure and ability to participate and comply with life-long follow-up and the life-style changes (e.g., changes in dietary habits, and beginning an exercise program) are necessary to the success of the procedure. 

If the patient does not meet ALL of the patient selection criteria for bariatric surgery, the procedure will be denied as not medically necessary.

Repeat or Revised Bariatric Surgical Procedures

Surgical repair to correct perioperative or late chronic complications of a bariatric procedure may be considered medically necessary when there is documentation of a surgical complication related to the perioperative or late chronic complications of a bariatric procedure. These include but are not limited to:

• Enteric fistula that does not close with bowel rest and nutritional support; or
• Gastrogastric fistula associated with ulcers, GERD and weight gain; or
• Band erosion; or
• Disruption/anastomotic leakage of a suture/staple line; or
• Tubing  leak or port  dislocation; or
• Small bowel obstruction; or
• Band intolerance with obstructive symptoms (e.g. vomiting, esophageal spasm); or
• Band slippage and/or prolapse that cannot be corrected with manipulation or adjustment; or
• Stricture/stenosis with dysphagia, solid food intolerance  and/or severe reflux; or
• Stomal stenosis; or
• Refractory marginal ulcers; or
• Non-absorption resulting  in hypocalcemia  or malnutrition; or
• Weight loss of 20% or more below ideal body weight  

Repeat surgical procedures for revision or conversion to another surgical procedure may be considered medically necessary when the initial bariatric surgery was medically necessary (and the individual continues to meet all the medical necessity criteria for bariatric surgery); and when ANY ONE of the following criteria is met:

• A conversion to a sleeve gastrectomy, RYGB or BPD/DS for individuals who have not had adequate weight loss success (defined as loss of more than 50% of excess body weight)  2 years following the primary bariatric surgery procedure and the member has been compliant with a prescribed nutrition and exercise program following the procedure; or  (standard tables for adult weight ranges based on height, body frame, gender and age), an example is available from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute [NHLBI]; or 
• A revision of a primary bariatric surgery procedure that has failed due to dilatation of the gastric pouch, dilated gastrojejunal stoma, or dilation of the gastrojejunostomy anastomosis if the primary procedure was successful in inducing weight loss prior to the dilation of the pouch or GJ anastomosis, and the member has been compliant with a prescribed nutrition and exercise program following the procedure; or
• Replacement of an adjustable band  if there are complications (e.g., port leakage, slippage) that cannot be corrected with band manipulation or adjustments; or
• A conversion from an adjustable band to a sleeve gastrectomy, RYGB or BPD/DS for individuals who have been compliant with a prescribed nutrition and exercise program following the band procedure, and there are complications that cannot be corrected with band manipulation, adjustments or replacement. 

Inadequate weight loss due to individual noncompliance with postoperative nutrition and exercise recommendations is considered not medically necessary for revision or conversion surgery, and therefore non-covered. 

Individual postoperative noncompliance negates the efficacy of revision or conversion surgery.

Repeat procedures for repair, revision, or conversion to another surgical procedure following a gastric bypass or gastric restrictive procedure are considered not medically necessary when the criteria listed above are not met.

Gastric stapling and gastric bypass surgery reported for the treatment of "morbid obesity" should be processed under the appropriate procedure codes. 

Itemized charges reported for gastroduodenostomy and/or surgery should be combined with the stapling or bypass surgery. Modifier 59 may be reported with a non-E/M service to identify it as distinct or independent from other non-E/M services performed on the same day. A liver biopsy upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) are considered an inherent part of all bariatric surgical procedures. These services are not eligible for separate payment when reported on the same day as a bariatric surgical procedure. When a doctor reports a liver biopsy, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy or EGD with a bariatric surgical procedure, the charges should be combined under the appropriate bariatric surgery procedure code. 

The following bariatric procedures are considered experimental/investigational, and therefore, non-covered.  There is insufficient evidence in the peer-reviewed published medical literature regarding effectiveness and safety of these procedures. 

• Endoscopic procedures; StomaphyX™ device, or  ROSE procedure
• Biliopancreatic bypass (the Scopinaro procedure) or laparoscopic
• The long-limb gastric bypass
• Intestinal bypass
• Laparoscopic gastric plication
• Vagal nerve blocking (VBLOC) therapy (neuromodulation non-metabolic), also known as the Maestro implant or Maestro rechargeable system
• Mini-gastric bypass
• Vertical banded gastroplasty
• ReShape Integrated Dual Balloon System
• ORBERA Intragastric Balloon System
• EndoBarrier Gastrointestinal Liner

Experimental/Investigational (E/I) services are not covered regardless of place of service.

The following procedures are typically considered inpatient procedures: Bariatric primary: Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal switch, Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB), Sleeve Gastrectomy and Bariatric Revisional Surgery.

The treatment of obesity is typically an outpatient procedure which is only eligible for coverage as an inpatient procedure in special circumstances, including, but not limited to, the presence of a co-morbid condition that would require monitoring in a more controlled environment such as the inpatient setting.

Services that do not meet the criteria of this policy will not be considered medically necessary. A network provider cannot bill the member for the denied service unless: (a) the provider has given advance written notice, informing the member that the service may be deemed not medically necessary; (b) the member is provided with an estimate of the cost; and (c) the member agrees in writing to assume financial responsibility in advance of receiving the service. The signed agreement must be maintained in the provider’s records.

Services that do not meet the criteria of this policy will be considered experimental/investigational (E/I). A network provider can bill the member for the experimental/investigational service. The provider must give advance written notice informing the member that the service has been deemed E/I. The member must be provided with an estimate of the cost and the member must agree in writing to assume financial responsibility in advance of receiving the service. The signed agreement must be maintained in the provider’s records.

• Link to Provider Resource Center for the Medical Policy Update

04/2016, Endobarrier Gastrointestinal Liner for the Surgical Treatment Of Obesity is Considered Experimental/Investigational.

12/2016, Six-Month Structured Diet Prior to Bariatric surgery No longer Required.

• Link to Diagnosis Codes

• Link to References