Health executives criticize Trump administration for not expanding coverage of obesity drugs
In the second half of last week, the Trump administration's CMS announced that it had not finalized a provision proposed by the Biden administration that would expand coverage of anti-obesity drugs under Medicare and Medicaid.
Currently, it is necessary to cover GLP-1s such as Ozempic and Wegovy in the case of conditions such as diabetes, but Medicare is prohibited from covering them to lose weight, and only some states Medicaid programs can be performed. The proposed rules issued in November will also expand coverage for obesity.
The Trump administration’s decision has disappointed some health care leaders, including Millicent Gorham, CEO of the Women’s Health and Prevention Coalition. Last year, the organization launched a campaign called “All People” to expand coverage of obesity care.
“We are very disappointed with the CMS decision and do not finalize the proposed rules to expand coverage of obesity management drugs under Medicare Part D and Medicaid,” Gorham said in a statement. “Obacteria is a chronic, treatable disease that has a significant impact on the lives of Americans, especially women in the United States. This change will be impactful for millions of people who rely on these programs to get the care they need, which will help reduce the impact of more than 200 other health complex effects associated with the disease.”
A VIDA Health executive believes the decision does not cover obesity weight loss pills suggests more work to be done in identifying obesity as a “debilitating disease.” VIDA Health is a digital company that treats chronic diseases.
“These medications play a vital role in weight loss and managing chronic diseases when responsible prescriptions are made in a wider program of nutrition and lifestyle and included in a wider program,” Veeneta Lakhani, chief strategy and development officer at VIDA Health, said in an email.. “This decision limits the chances of many patients who will benefit from access to GLP-1, which promotes existing health disparities and inequalities in obesity care.”
Another healthcare executive noted that comorbidities of GLP-1 are often associated with obesity, such as sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease, but without the root cause itself. She believes that these drugs should cover obesity and these comorbidities.
“We need to start seeing obesity as a serious chronic disease, not treating the secondary disease that comes with it. Zepbound is masked only when you have sleep apnea and only if you have cardiovascular disease, but if you have cardiovascular disease, but to get involved in the root of both problems, we need to put half of the officials into doctors and it will lead to people who are nearly America and will almost be born with natural birth, which is born with angels,’ co-founder of weight care company Nowwell in an email.
Currently, more than 42% of adults in the United States suffer from obesity. Without insurance, the cost of weight loss pills can range from a few hundred dollars to $1,500 a month.
According to a blog post from the Medicare Policy Plan, CM may rethink covering these drugs in the future. There are other proposals to expand coverage of anti-obesity drugs, including Congressional bills. However, it is worth noting that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Photo: Jason Dean, Getty Images
