The Gerontological Society of America gave legislators a thumbs-up for reintroducing the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2023 last week. The legislation would give people on Medicare access to more tools to treat weight-related issues including obesity, and expand coverage for weight loss drugs.
The act (S. 2407 and H.R. 4818) would enable the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to include benefits for intensive behavioral counseling and allow more types of health providers to offer these services. It also would expand Medicare Part D so people on it can get US Food and Drug Administration-approved prescription drugs to treat obesity and give weight loss drugs for those who need them.
“Elevating obesity disease management to the forefront will help primary care providers care for people with diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis, and many other diseases,” James Appleby, BSPharm, CEO of the society, said in a statement.
“Obesity as a chronic disease is a trigger and can exacerbate these other health conditions. GSA is pleased to see the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act introduced in Congress on a bicameral, bipartisan level and looks forward to Congress passing this important legislation,” Appleby added.
As it stands, people with weight issues who are on Medicare cannot get access to medicines that may be able to help — including those that are approved for type 2 diabetes but not weight loss, like Ozempic and Wegovy. Medicare provides screening, behavioral counseling and weight loss surgery. Medicare Part D cannot cover drugs used for weight loss. Approving the medication could raise costs for Medicare. Wegovy costs about $13,600 a year. A recent study estimated that the annual cost to Medicare would be $26.8 billion if 10% of people using Medicare who had obesity used the drug Wegovy. This is based on survey data showing that 41.5% of people over the age of 60 are obese.
The Gerontological Society of America gave legislators a thumbs-up for reintroducing the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2023 last week. The legislation would give people on Medicare access to more tools to treat weight-related issues including obesity, and expand coverage for weight loss drugs.
The act (S. 2407 and H.R. 4818) would enable the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to include benefits for intensive behavioral counseling and allow more types of health providers to offer these services. It also would expand Medicare Part D so people on it can get US Food and Drug Administration-approved prescription drugs to treat obesity and give weight loss drugs for those who need them.
“Elevating obesity disease management to the forefront will help primary care providers care for people with diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis, and many other diseases,” James Appleby, BSPharm, CEO of the society, said in a statement.
“Obesity as a chronic disease is a trigger and can exacerbate these other health conditions. GSA is pleased to see the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act introduced in Congress on a bicameral, bipartisan level and looks forward to Congress passing this important legislation,” Appleby added.
As it stands, people with weight issues who are on Medicare cannot get access to medicines that may be able to help — including those that are approved for type 2 diabetes but not weight loss, like Ozempic and Wegovy. Medicare provides screening, behavioral counseling and weight loss surgery. Medicare Part D cannot cover drugs used for weight loss. Approving the medication could raise costs for Medicare. Wegovy costs about $13,600 a year. A recent study estimated that the annual cost to Medicare would be $26.8 billion if 10% of people using Medicare who had obesity used the drug Wegovy. This is based on survey data showing that 41.5% of people over the age of 60 are obese.
