More than 100 Members of Congress Ask for Passage of the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2015 During Medicare's 50th Anniversary Celebration

TAMPA, Fla., July 30, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA) of 2015 (HR 2404 and S 1509) continues to gain momentum with 101 members of the House of Representatives and 10 members of the Senate co-sponsoring this important legislation. The Act, originally introduced by Representatives Paulsen (R-MN); and Kind (D-WI); and Senators Carper (D-DE) and Cassidy (R-LA), aims to provide Medicare beneficiaries with additional treatment tools to help individuals address their overweight and obesity.

"We are very excited to have more than 100 legislators supporting The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2015. Each day we're learning more and more that obesity is a complex, multifactorial disease requiring a comprehensive all of the above treatment plan. Having this level of support truly demonstrates the importance of this legislation on a national level," said Joe Nadglowski, OAC President and CEO, representative of the TRO Coalition.

TROA would provide CMS with the authority to expand the existing Medicare benefit for intensive behavioral counseling by allowing additional types of healthcare providers to offer these services. It would also lift the decades-old Medicare Part D coverage exclusion of FDA-approved prescription drugs for chronic weight management, which would give individuals a full range of treatment options for the disease.

"This is a very exciting time for changes in healthcare. A proper way to celebrate Medicare's Golden Anniversary would be to ensure the program doesn't place treatment restrictions on the most common disease, obesity, within the program. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have openly expressed that it is important for them to explore ways to keep Medicare and Medicaid strong for the next 50 years. With this in mind, it is crucial that we advocate to our elected officials regarding obesity and its treatments. The most important action individuals affected by obesity, and those caring for individuals affected, can do is to contact their legislators in Congress and ask for passage of TROA," said Ted Kyle, RPh, MBA, OAC Chairman.

The TROA was first introduced in 2013 during the 113^th Congress. While the legislation received strong bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, with 121 co-sponsors, the legislation did not progress beyond the committee level. To learn more about The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2015 or contact your legislator, please visit www.covermedicalweightloss.com.

About the TRO Coalition:
The TRO Coalition, developed in 2013, is comprised of the leading patient and healthcare professional groups that either treat, or are affected by, the chronic disease of obesity. The goal of the TRO Coalition is to spread awareness of The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act and encourage individuals, organizations and others to support its efforts.

SOURCE Obesity Action Coalition