Baptist Hospital Discounts Lap-Band Weight Loss Surgery by 25 Percent to Compete with Prices Offered Internationally

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(Business Wire)--
To compete with lower international pricing for Lap-Band weight loss surgery and
the state of the economy today, the Metabolic Surgery Center at Baptist Hospital
has created a"Lap-Band Wellness Stimulus Package."

The cost of the Lap-Band procedure has been reduced by 25 percent - from $16,100
to $12,000 - for self-pay patients only, who schedule Lap-Band weight loss
surgery between now and January 31, 2010. For self-pay patients, paying for
weight loss surgery can weigh heavily on the final decision to undergo the
procedure.

The package includes the surgical procedure with no overnight stay or
complications, as well as three months of Lap-Band adjustments and consultations
with the center`s dieticians and exercise physiologists as needed. Financing
options are available through CareCredit.

"This is a `wellness stimulus` for a healthier lifestyle," said Bernie Sherry,
president and CEO of Baptist Hospital. "The $12,000 Lap-Band fee is competitive
with medical tourism travel rates. Medical tourism is gaining popularity as
patients cross the border where costs of surgery are lower, yet there are
potential dangers. By receiving treatment at Baptist Hospital, self-pay patients
receive both financial value and high quality care from an accredited Center of
Excellence."

According to Dr. Charles Morton, medical director of the Metabolic Surgery
Center, thousands of patients travel to Mexico each year for Lap-Band surgery.
"In some places, medical qualification standards for physicians and health care
facilities are very different than they are in the United States and there`s no
follow up care once the patient is back home."

The Baptist Metabolic Surgery Center expects its Lap-Band Wellness Stimulus
Package will draw patients from across the country and has developed travel
packages with special rates on hotel and air travel.

In addition, some patients may be eligible for a tax deduction, as medical costs
such as those associated with Lap-Band surgery are considered non-reimbursed
medical expenses.

The Lap-Band, or laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, is a purely restrictive
weight loss procedure that limits solid food intake by surgically inserting an
inflatable band completely around the uppermost part of the stomach. This
minimally-invasive and reversible procedure does not include cutting or stapling
of the stomach and there is no bypassing of the intestines. Nearly all patients
can go home the same day as the procedure.

"Lap-Band is one of the most common weight loss procedures done today and it`s
successfully helping treat obesity for patients across the country," said Dr.
Morton.

Ideal candidates for Lap-Band surgery include patients who:

* Are at least 100 pounds overweight or have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or
higher or at least a BMI of 35 with one or more obesity-related health
conditions such as Type 2 diabetes.
* Are at least 18 to 65 years old.
* Have made serious attempts to lose weight and have had only short-term
success.
* Are prepared to make substantial changes in eating habits and lifestyle.

The Metabolic Surgery Center at Baptist Hospital is one of the most
comprehensive weight loss surgery programs in the country, providing Lap-Band,
gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy and duodenal switch, which correct metabolic
deficiencies. The center and its surgeons are designated as a Bariatric Surgery
Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric
Surgery.

For more information about the Lap-Band Wellness Stimulus Package, call (615)
284-2400 or visit www.baptistweightloss.com. The Metabolic Surgery Center at
2021 Church Street, Suite 104, in Nashville, Tenn.

Metabolic Surgery Center at Baptist Hospital
Kristi Gooden, 615-284-5446
kristi.gooden@baptisthospital.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009