Medicare pays Gastric Bypass Surgery for SC Patient

This is the story of Danny Hammett from South Carolina. For years, he hid out in his truck, sat in his chair, and had his son untie his shoes for him because - at 535 pounds - he couldn't do it himself. When he was no longer able to work, Medicare ended up paying the approximately $30,000 for the surgery that saved his life.

In February, Medicare expanded its coverage of bariatric surgery with a few conditions. For one, the surgery must be performed at a high-volume surgical center with a low mortality rate. Specifically, a "Center of Excellence," as certified by the American College of Surgeons or the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. (Read more Here)