Intensive Behavioral Therapy (IBT)

for Obesity

Medicare beneficiaries with obesity are eligible to meet with a registered dietitian for a series of visits for weight loss counseling.

To be eligible, you must have a body mass index (BMI) equal to or greater than 30 kg/m2.  A Physician’s Referral is also required.  The program includes:

• One face-to-face visit every week for the first month
• One face-to-face visit every other week for months two through six
• If you have lost a minimum of 6.6 pounds during the first 6 months, you can have an additional 6 face-to-face visits monthly for months 7 through 12. 

If you don’t hit the required target of 6.6 pounds by the end of the first 6 months, you will still get another opportunity, but you will have to wait 6 months before Medicare will pay for you to try again.  There is no limit to how many attempts you can make, provided that your BMI is still 30 or greater and 6 months have gone by since the last attempt.

Counseling visits include assessing your diet and coaching you through changing habits and setting goals aimed at helping you lose weight and keep it off.