Biden is ramping up coverage of the administration. Anti-obesity drugs A White House official says a new proposal from the Department of Health and Human Services could make drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy available to people with Medicare and Medicaid.
Medicare currently only covers the drugs for people diagnosed with diabetes or heart disease along with obesity, or for people who are overweight, according to the official, who added that while some State Medicaid programs cover it. GLP-1 drugs For obesity, many do not.
In the new HHS proposal, both Medicare and Medicaid would be required to cover drugs for people with obesity as a treatment for the condition, he said.
“Today’s new proposal will expand access to these innovative drugs for obesity, which is recognized as a disease and helps an estimated 3.4 million Americans with Medicare. For some enrollees, percent The White House said in a statement on Tuesday.
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A new proposal from the Biden administration would expand VeGoVee coverage for people with Medicare and Medicaid. (Steve Christo – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
“Nearly 4 million adult Medicaid enrollees will also have new access to these drugs. This proposal will allow Americans and their doctors to determine the best path forward so they can lead healthier lives, their without worrying about the ability to cover these drugs out-of-pocket, and ultimately reduce health care costs for our nation,” the statement added.
“For many Americans, these important treatments are too expensive and therefore out of reach,” the White House says, and, “without insurance coverage, these drugs can cost someone up to $1,000 a month.” “
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide) receptor agonists are commonly prescribed to patients with type 2 diabetes (to stabilize blood glucose levels) or obesity (to aid weight loss).
Diabetes patients now have access to the first generic GLP-1 drug
The anti-obesity drug Ozempic, made by the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. (Getty Images)
“These drugs slow down digestion, which means food stays in the stomach longer,” said Dr. Alfred Bonati, founder of the Bonati Spine Institute in Florida. told Fox News Digital.
An estimated 42 million Americans are obese today, the White House says, “along with all-cause mortality and a number of related diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, some cancers, and more.”
Three injectable prescription weight-loss drugs — Ozempic, Victoza and Vigovi. (Universal Images Group via Michael Siluk/UCG/Getty Images)
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“In the past few years, there have been major scientific advances in the treatment of obesity, with the introduction of new life-saving drugs. These anti-obesity drugs may help prevent the development of type 2 diabetes. Additionally, these drugs “Reduces mortality and increases morbidity and other cardiovascular outcomes from heart attack by up to 20%,” Whitehouse added.
Melissa Roddy of Fox News contributed to this report.