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Bariatric Resource Services for Health Plans

Offer cost-effective, quality proven, weight-loss surgery.

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A life changing journey

Optum® Bariatric Resource Services provides member support through the entire continuum of care.

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Obesity is a serious health concern 

Obesity is a growing concern and a serious health problem in the United States. It may be affecting your members and result in higher costs for you.

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  • 45% of working-age Americans age 40-59, classified as obese1
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  • 21% national medical spend because of obesity2
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Obesity related conditions include some of the leading causes of preventable death5

  • Type 2 diabetes 
  • Certain cancers
  • Heart disease
  • Stroke
  • Sleep apnea
  • Hypertension
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Consider carving out benefits for complex medical conditions like bariatric surgery with the Optum Bariatric Resource Services (BRS).

Optum BRS will enable you to reduce medical expenses associated with bariatric surgery. It also provides support for your members, their family members, and caregivers, increasing potential for success.

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A multi-disciplinary approach

Optum Centers of Excellence (COE) and clinical nurse case management help lower total cost of care and support better outcomes. 

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Centers of Excellence (COE)

  • Clinically superior compared to most non-COEs performing bariatric surgeries
  • Evaluated annually to ensure highest quality and best value:
    • Annual volume of surgeries
    • Number and experience of surgeons
    • Complications and mortality rate
    • Certifications
    • Length of program existence 
    • Multidisciplinary team
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Clinical nurse case management

  • Pre- and post-surgical telephonic clinical case management by dedicated BRS nursing staff
  • Provide education on the benefits of choosing a COE facility 
  • Provide post-surgical follow up to ensure behavior/lifestyle modification and reduce complications
  • Specialized bariatric experience

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19%

Lower mortality rate in BRS COEs compared to non-COE providers6

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30%

Lower inpatient hospital remission rate in BRS COEs compared to non-COE providers7

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24%

Lower re-operation rate in BRS COEs compared to non-COE providers8

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20-30%

Lower average allowed in-patient cost per surgical episode at a BRS COE9

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5%

Lower average allowed in-patient cost per surgical episode at a BRS COE9

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93%

member satisfaction with BRS clinical case managers' support; 86 percent of members indicated better health outcomes with the program11

 

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Bariatric Resource Services

View fact sheet (PDF 337kb)

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BRS Member Journey

View member journey (PDF 279kb)

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Footnotes

  1. National Center for Health Statistics. Prevalence of Obesity and Severe Obesity Among Adults: United States, 2017–2018. February 2020.
  2. National Library of Medicine. The High and Rising Costs of Obesity to the US Health Care System. March 2017.
  3. American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Obesity in America Fact Sheet. November 2018.
  4. United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).National Diabetes Statistics Report 2020. Accessed September 2020.
  5. American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. October 2018.
  6. American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. October 2018.
  7. Chen, M. 2019 Centers of Excellence qualification analysis results. Analyzed 2020.
  8. Lo, M. 2015-2016 Optum claims book of business analysis. Analyzed 2018
  9. Optum case book of business analysis. Analyzed 2019 and 2020
  10. 2019 Q1 Optum Consumer Net Promoter Score survey results