Today, 250 million patients are impacted by the ASMBS BSCOE program by payor network selections. To help ensure that bariatric surgery and care are delivered in a facility and by a surgeon that meet strict standards, have a proven track record on patient safety and consistently deliver quality care, numerous payors and networks across the nation use the BSCOE program as a prequalification requirement for their provider network. They recognize that using a BSCOE helps ensure better outcomes for their members. The following is a list of just some of the payors and networks that endorse the BSCOE program (click on name for more information about the organization):

• Aultcare Health Plans

The ASMBS BSCOE designation is required for inclusion in this hospital-based PPO's bariatric surgery network. AultCare is a subsidiary of the Aultman Foundation and Stark Quality Care Physicians and is one of the largest hospital-based health insurance plans in the Midwest, serving more than 2,200 companies and 530,000 members. For more information go to www.aultcare.com.

• American Specialty Health

This health improvement organization requires the ASMBS BSCOE designation for inclusion in their bariatric surgery network. American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH) provides specialty benefit programs, fitness programs, health coaching and incentives, Internet solutions, and worksite wellness programs to health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups, and trust funds nationwide. ASH subsidiaries cover 13.4 million members in specialty benefit, fitness, and coaching programs. For more information, go to www.ashcompanies.com.

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Blue Distinction Centers for Bariatric SurgerySM program recognizes the ASMBS BSCOE designation by displaying the ASMBS BSCOE seal next to all hospital names that have achieved the designation in their provider listing on BCBSA Web site and in their network directories. In addition, the Association gives credit for 29 out of 51 questions in its quality data survey that is sent to bariatric hospitals and surgeons. To learn more, go to www.bcbs.com.

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield Massachusetts

Bariatric Surgery programs must have the ASMBS BSCOE designation (or ACS designation or meet the Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety and Medical Error Reduction requirements) as a requirement for inclusion in the BCBSMA COE network. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts was founded more than 70 years ago by a group of community-minded business leaders and provides coverage to more than 3 million members, 2.5 million in Massachusetts. BCBSMA believes in rewarding doctors and hospitals for delivering safe and effective care, and in empowering patients to take more responsibility, become educated health care consumers and become stronger partners with their doctors. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. For more information, go to https://www.bluecrossma.com.

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina

For inclusion in the BCBSNC bariatric surgery COE network, providers must have the ASMBS BSCOE designation (or ACS designation). Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is a leader in delivering innovative health care products, services and information to more than 3.7 million members, including approximately 900,000 served on behalf of other Blue Plans. For 75 years, the company has served its customers by offering health insurance at a competitive price and has served the people of North Carolina through support of community organizations, programs and events that promote good health. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, go to https://www.bcbsnc.com/.

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Dakota

ASMBS BSCOE designation or proof of Provisional Status (or ACS designation) is required for inclusion in the BCBSND bariatric surgery network. BCBSND is North Dakota's largest provider of health care coverage, insuring more than 350,000 North Dakota residents and 75,000 non-residents. More than 475,000 people have BCBSND health care coverage either directly or through administrative agreements. BCBSND is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, go to https://www.bcbsnd.com/.

• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

CMS requires the ASMBS BSCOE designation (or ACS designation) in order to meet its standards for bariatric surgery and be included in the bariatric surgery network. For more information, go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicareApprovedFacilitie/BSF/list.asp.

• CIGNA

The ASMBS BSCOE designation (or ACS designation) is required for inclusion in their bariatric surgery network and be considered as a CIGNA Certified Hospital for Bariatric Surgery. For more information go to http://www.cigna.com/customer_care/healthcare_professional/medical/cchb_criteria.html.

• Coalition American, Inc.

The ASMBS BSCOE designation is required for inclusion in Coalition America's panel of bariatric surgery providers. Coalition America, Inc. (CAI/NPPN) uses proprietary technology to deliver significant discounts on medical and dental bills. It services clients representing more than 12,000 health plans nationwide. For more information, go to http://www.coalitionamerica.com/.

• Harvard Pilgrim HealthCare

Harvard Pilgrim uses the ASMBS BSCOE designation to select their list of providers meeting specific quality criteria for weight loss surgery. Harvard Pilgrim is a not-for-profit health plan that provides a variety of insurance plan options and self-funding arrangements to more than one million members in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. For more information, go to www.harvardpilgrim.org.

• Humana

Humana requires the ASMBS BSCOE designation for participation in their bariatric surgery network. Humana's bariatric surgery management program serves members who have a bariatric surgery benefit and meet bariatric surgery qualifications. The program focuses on guiding members to BSCOEs. Humana has specialized bariatric nurses available for its members to help them select appropriate centers, obtain authorizations (if needed) and coordinate bariatric surgery-related care for six months post surgery. Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the nation's largest publicly traded health and supplemental benefits companies, with approximately 11.7 million medical members. Humana is a full-service benefits solutions company, offering a wide array of health and supplementary benefit plans for employer groups, government programs and individuals. You may find a copy of Humana's coverage guidelines for bariatric surgery at www.humana.com.

• Kaiser Permanente

Only ASMBS BSCOE centers are used to serve the members of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente is the nation's largest not-for-profit health plan, serving 8.7 million members. For more information about their bariatric surgery network, go to https://www.kaiserpermanente.org/.

• Medica

Medica requires the ASMBS BSCOE designation for participation in their bariatric surgery network and inclusion in their COE program. Serving about 1.4 million members, Medica is a health insurance company headquartered in Minneapolis and active in the Upper Midwest. The non-profit company provides health care coverage in the employer, individual, Medicaid, Medicare and Medicare Part D markets in Minnesota and a growing number of counties in North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Medica also offers national network coverage to employers who also have employees outside the Medica regional network. For more information, go to http://member.medica.com/C16/CentersOfExcellence/default.aspx.

• Medical Mutual of Ohio

The ASMBS BSCOE designation is required for participation in the Medical Mutual of Ohio bariatric surgery network. Founded in 1934, Medical Mutual of Ohio is the oldest and largest health insurance company based in Ohio. The company serves its customers through high-quality, affordable group and personal health insurance plans, and third-party administrative services to self-insured group customers. For more information, visit the company's award-winning Web site at http://www.medmutual.com/default.aspx.

• OptumHealth

OptumHealth requires the ASMBS BSCOE designation for inclusion in the COE network. OptumHealth, headquartered in Golden Valley, Minn., is one of the nation's largest health and wellness companies, working with employers, health plans and governments to serve 60 million individuals across the nation. For more information about its Bariatric Resource Services, go to http://www.optumhealth.com/content/Files/OH_BariatricResourceServices.pdf.

• WPS Health Insurance

The ASMBS BSCOE designation is required for participation in the WPS bariatric surgery network. WPS Health Insurance is a not-for-profit company that has been providing health and benefit plan administration throughout Wisconsin for more than 60 years. For more information, go to www.wpsic.com.

The decision to have bariatric surgery is a very important one and should only be considered after consulting with your physician and a qualified bariatric surgeon. While SRC does not recommend specific bariatric surgeons or groups, we encourage you to look for the Bariatric Surgery Centers of Excellence designation when choosing your bariatric surgeon or program.

To locate a BSCOE, click on the map below:

An ASMBS BSCOE is comprised of more than just the surgeon. The two-level application and evaluation process to become an ASMBS BSCOE is one of the most rigorous in the country and includes a site inspection. To earn the BSCOE designation, both the surgeon and facility meet stringent criteria established by bariatric surgery experts, have demonstrated surgical experience and agree to participate in quality improvement initiatives. A BSCOE offers a comprehensive program from pre-surgery through long-term post-surgery follow-up and includes a multi-disciplinary team of nurses, nutritionists, psychologists, office staff and others devoted to providing safe and effective care of the morbidly obese.

The following industry stakeholder business organizations generously offer patient education tools and support to the BSCOE program. (click on name for more information):

• Medical Animatics

To learn more about the three types of weight loss surgeries, potential patients and their families can view a video from Medical Animatics. The video provides an overview of malabsorptive, restrictive, and combination procedures including: gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy and the laparoscopic adjustable gastric band. Medical Animatics is a national leader in the production of media-rich educational materials using scientific and medical visualizations. To see the video, go to http://bariatricmedia.com/patient.php.