Medicare Intensive Behavioral Therapy (IBT)

Counseling Program



Welcome, Medicare Patients!

The Intensive Behavioral Therapy (IBT) Program is for medicare patients with a BMI of 30+ who have intentions of losing weight and living a healthier lifestyle!

Check your BMI HERE.


How long is the program?

Patients are expected to follow the program's schedule for a year OR until they achieve a BMI < 30. 

Once patients achieve a BMI < 30, the program will end (even if it's before the full 12 months). However, if patients complete the 12 month program and still have a BMI > 30, they are able to repeat the program for another year. 

If unable to complete the program after starting, patients can wait 6 months and restart the program from the beginning!


What to expect?

During each visit, patients will have vitals taken and have a body composition completed to track progress with their weight, muscle mass, fat loss, etc. prior to their 15 minute counseling session. Patients are able to schedule these visits with any of our resources: behavioral health coach, registered dietitian, physical trainer, or physician.

If more than 15 minutes is required due to medical necessity, visits can be complemented by seeing a provider (these visits may be subject to copays or deductibles).

GOALS

Obesity is a gateway disease to many other complications (diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, etc). 


The major goal of the program is to counsel patients through behavioral health coaching, dietary counceling, and physical fitness strategies to guide them towards a healthier lifestyle through weight loss. 


This program aims to decrease a patient's BMI to below 30 and teach patients how to maintain and continue their weight loss journeys even after the program ends. 

QUALIFY

Paticipants in the program must currently have and maintain a BMI equal to or above 30 during the program and be a competent and alert Medicare recipient at time of counsel. 


Participants must meet the requirement of at least 6lbs. weight loss by month 6 of the program in order to continue with treatment. 


Once the patients achieve a BMI below 30, the program will no longer apply. All resources will still be available to patients, but at their own disgression. 


COST

Through this preventive program, Medicare will cover 20 visits for 15 minute counseling within a year's time frame or until patients achieve a BMI < 30. 


During these visits, patients can choose to speak with our behavioral health coach, registered dietitian, or fitness trainer. 


Patients will not be subject to any copays or deductibles for these visits unless complications exceed the scope of the IBT program. 

20 Visit Program Schedule:

Visit #1-4

During the first month on the program, patients are expected to be seen for IBT weekly. 

Visit #5-14

During months 2-6, patients are expected to be seen for IBT bi-weekly. 

Visit #15-20

During months 7-12, patients are expected to be seen for IBT once a month. 

Your Team 

Intensive Behavioral Therapy (Medicare)

Cheryl Sarmiento, MD

Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine Physician

Amie Jakubiak, D.O
Intensive Behavioral Therapy (Medicare)

Tesa Edge

Behavioral Health Coach
Intensive Behavioral Therapy (Medicare)

Daniel Andras

Registered Dietitian
Intensive Behavioral Therapy (Medicare)

JT Threlkeld

Personal Fitness Trainer