Sunday letters: Obesity coverage puts SC Medicaid on leading edge

So often we hear about how Medicaid is failing our weakest and most vulnerable citizens. I’d like to call attention to a great step forward: S.C. Medicaid will now cover dietician services for adults and children dealing with obesity.

Obesity is a major problem for both adults and children in South Carolina. Previously, the patient and family had to rely on whatever information their primary care physician was able to provide. As a general pediatrician, I like to think that I do at least a reasonable job dealing with obesity: I can certainly offer general nutritional guidance. But I am not a dietician and cannot offer any real expertise on the details of a child’s diet. This change in Medicaid coverage allows us to offer comprehensive care.

South Carolina now will be far ahead of most of the nation in Medicaid coverage of dietician services for obesity. We should all be very proud of this.

Columbia