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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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  • 42% of adults in the United States are considered obese1
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  • $173B annual medical cost of obesity in the U.S.2
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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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39%

Lower inpatient hospital readmission rate at BRS COEs vs. non-COE providers3

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31%

Lower length of stay rate at BRS COEs compared to non-COE providers4

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20-30%

Lower average allowed in-patient cost per surgical episode at a BRS COE5

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5%

Lower average allowed in-patient cost per surgical episode at a BRS COE5

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100%

of members in the program indicated satisfaction with BRS clinical case managers and 82% indicate better health outcomes by working with the program6

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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. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adult Obesity Facts. Accessed November 2022.
  2. Ward ZJ, Bleich SN, Long MW, Gortmaker SL. Association of body mass index with health care expenditures in the United States by age and sex. Accessed April 2023.
  3. Crossman A. UHC Commercial Surgeries (2020). Cost expressed in episodic derived allowed.
  4. Tauer J. 2016 Center of Excellence qualification analysis results, analyzed 2017.
  5. Optum case book of business analysis. Analyzed 2019 and 2020.
  6. 2021 Optum Consumer Net Promoter Score survey results.