House Bill 528, approved in this year’s legislation session, is waiting for Gov. Haley Barbour’s approval. He is currently reviewing the measure and is expected to rule on it by April 23.

“Obesity is a major problem in Mississippi,” said House Public Health and Human Services Committee Chairman Steve Holland.

"Paying for the surgeries could “save us some money in the long run.”

At the moment, bariatric surgery is considered a cosmetic procedure and is therefore not eligible for coverage in the program. A review of this policy would likely focus on the health benefits of treating morbidly obese patients through bariatric surgery, and thus reducing the likelihood of them developing other long term illnesses such as Type II diabetes and heart conditions. Each procedure costs between $15,00 and $20,000, which is considered by some to be expensive, but justified by the long term savings it can achieve.

Sen. Terry Burton, R-Newton, who is promoting the change, described the procedures as a “costly short-term solution that will save money in the long run.”

Dr. Ken Vick, assistant professor of surgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, said that the state could see savings through providing the procedures. The procedure has a success rate of 75 to 90 percent, and with counselling, patients can keep the weight off.

“Lifestyle changes are absolutely essential,” Vick said.

Because of the correlation between income and body mass index, the recipients of Medicaid could be the section of the population most likely to benefit from bariatric surgery. The result of the state agreeing to fund the surgeries could be a slimmer population.

“It can make a difference,” he said. “We have a lot of people who come to this institution who are begging for this type of help.”