BLIS - Improving Access to Surgery

Programs and Services

The BLIS Foundation

The BLIS Foundation - Patient Support and Education

The primary activities of The BLIS Foundation include obesity related research, education, and patient support, each discussed below.

According to the American College of Surgeons:

Obesity is the most common metabolic disorder, the most significant public health problem and (just next to tobacco use) the leading cause of preventable death in the United States today.
Bariatric Surgery (weight loss surgery) is the most effective therapy available for morbid obesity, can result in improvement or complete resolution of obesity related co-morbidities, and can help restore quality of life.

The Scope of Obesity and Weight Loss Surgery:

According to NIH guidelines, there are currently over 15,000,000 Americans who could qualify for bariatric surgery. However, in 2008, only 220,000 bariatric surgical procedures were performed. It is estimated that in 2009, 240,000 surgeries will be performed. Unfortunately, each year morbid obesity is growing at a faster rate, numerically than the annual number of weight loss surgeries. Which is to say that the annual number of weight loss surgeries performed in America is less than the annual number of newly classified morbidly obese Americans.

For morbidly obese patients, research and experience has proven that weight loss surgery (bariatric surgery) is the most effective treatment modality for significant sustained weight loss and the resolution of co-morbidities such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular impairment, sleep apnea, etc. On average, weight loss surgery patients can anticipate at least 50% sustained excess weight loss over five years and a significant lowering or complete resolution of most co-morbidities.

Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes:

Regarding diabetes, extensive research has shown that 90% of all individuals with diabetes have type 2 diabetes and that more than 80% of individuals with type 2 diabetes are obese. Obesity is considered one of the prime risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the following are the 2007 annual economic costs associated with diabetes:

National costs exceed $174 billion
Direct medical costs total $116 billion
Indirect costs due to lost productivity total $58 billion
Diabetes costs represent 20% of the total U.S. healthcare expenditures
The above numbers represent an increase of $42 billion since 2002
This 32% increase translates to over $8 billion more each year
Medical expenditures for Diagnoised Diabetics are 230% of non-diabetics

Weight Loss Surgery and Type 2 Diabetes:

Weight loss surgical procedures provide consistent, long term weight-loss in severly obese patients and provide a high rate of remission from type 2 diabetes symptoms as well as the other co-morbidities outlined above. The benefits of weight loss surgery alone will lessen the economic burden on government and society through decreased medical expenditures and increased productivity.

BLIS Foundation's Mission:

The Mission of the BLIS Foundation is therefore to improve the health, quality of life and life expectancy of persons who would benefit directly from weight loss surgery, but who currently do not have access to the surgery for economic or other reasons.

The BLIS Foundation will encourage the development of:

Safe, reliable, and effective weight loss surgical practices, and
Innovative methods to assure the availability of weight loss surgery to qualifying surgical candidates, who are unable to afford or otherwise access such surgery

In fulfilling this mission, the BLIS Foundation will:

1. Fund Research. We will support and fund medical research targeted toward improving patient outcomes as a result of weight loss surgery. Although Bariatric surgeries have been performed for over 30 years, the dramatic growth in the last 10 years provides a previously unavailable amount of data. The unifying theme of addressing the perceived risk and affordability of weight loss surgery provides focus for BLIS Foundation research. Research topics will include:

Analysis of various bariatric surgery procedures with their related complications and associated costs
Exploration of financial implications in terms of risk/reward, return on investment, and other views of cost justification for weight loss surgery
Monitoring of insurance coverage trends and rationale
Evaluating the impact of surgery on the reduction of co-morbidities

Multiple audiences will benefit from the above noted research, especially medical practitioners, their patients, advocacy groups, and suppliers of related products and services. The BLIS Foundation will disseminate its findings through its web sites, publications, and presentations at professional and casual meetings of the interested audiences.

2. Educate. We strongly believe in obesity prevention and will provide education as to the causes of obesity, specifically targeting childhood obesity. We will also support, facilitate and provide training and education designed to improve the quality of weight loss surgery, reduce risk and improve access to care.

3. Facilitate Weight loss surgery. We will develop methods for those individuals qualifying for weight loss surgery, but 1. Do not have medical insurance coverage for the surgery, and/or 2. Cannot afford to self-pay for the procedure without assistance.

Facilitating Weight Loss Surgery

In the last ten years, the number of Bariatric surgeries increased ten fold, and within the next ten years, it is projected to grow at a higher rate. However, financial barriers inhibit a large number of qualified candidates who are uninsured, under-insured or uninsurable.

The BLIS Foundation activities will add an important dimension to the treatment of morbid obesity. It will develop common interests with other like-minded individuals and organizations including physicians, medical centers, professional societies, advocacy and support groups, healthcare pharmaceutical and supply companies, research institutions, corporations, government agencies, and insurance and finance companies. The BLIS Foundation will seek and encourage meaningful collaboration with the goal of improving access to weight loss surgery in a risk-controlled environment.

Through research and publication, the BLIS Foundation will identify and promote practices that improve the overall value of expenditures for weight loss surgery. It will monitor the post-surgical economic impact of reduced expenditures for obesity-related illnesses, including related medications, coupled with the enhanced earning power of patients.

Contact information:

Mr. Arthur G. Richards, Executive Director

The BLIS Foundation

503-807-0134

artrichards@blisfoundation.org