State approves $2.4M pilot program for bariatric surgeries

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State lawmakers have decided to use $2.4 million to pay for a pilot program that will provide gastric bypass and Lap-Band surgery for 100 of the state's heaviest employees.

According to Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, the surgery, which which costs about $24,000 a pop, will save money in the long run as well as save lives. The state Budget and Control Board gave its stamp of approval on the pilot program Thursday.

Only 17 slots are open for state workers in the tri-country area.

It's true - stomach-shrinking procedures are proved to be cost-effective investments, but it makes you worry when the government has to get involved in the obesity problem in our state. When it comes down to numbers, nearly 63 percent of adults and 34 percent of children in the state are overweight or obese. The national average is 60.8 percent for adults and 31.6 percent for children.

To learn more about the pilot program, jump over to the article in The Post and Courier.

 

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