Medicare has announced it will pay for screenings and preventive services to help recipients curb obesity and associated ailments. For people who screen positive for obesity, new Medicare benefits will include face-to-face counseling every week for one month, then a counseling appointment every other week for five months. "This is good news for the millions of Americans who struggle with obesity and its serious consequences and for their doctors who care for them," said Gary Foster, director of Temple's Center for Obesity Research and Education.