AAPPO Launches Initiative on PPO Best Practices for Bariatric Surgery

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AAPPO Launches Initiative on PPO Best Practices

for Bariatric Surgery

WASHINGTON, DC (April 23, 2009)

– The Board of Directors of the American Association of Preferred Provider Organizations (AAPPO), the leading national association of network-based PPOs and affiliated organizations, today announced a new initiative to identify best practices for PPOs in coordinating care for members following bariatric surgery. The annual rate of bariatric surgery has increased rapidly over the past decade, largely as the result of improved surgical techniques, better research linking weight loss to reduction in chronic disease and rising rates of obesity.

Under this initiative, supported by Ethicon Endo-Surgery, AAPPO will convene an expert Advisory Committee to examine best practices in clinical and psychosocial management of obesity surgery. AAPPO will identify effective strategies that could be adopted by PPOs to support patients in achieving successful long-term outcomes after bariatric surgery and will develop a series of short, electronic, “Issue Briefs” addressing aspects of bariatric surgery.

Richard M. Hannon, Chairman of AAPPO and Senior VP, Marketing and Provider Affairs for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona commented, “I am very pleased that AAPPO is undertaking this project to identify best practices to improve

bariatric surgery outcomes. AAPPO will identify effective PPO approaches to linking behavioral health, nutritional services and follow up care needs to ‘wrap around’ the surgical process. This will ensure that patients get the behavioral information and support they need for successful weight loss.”

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