Medicare moves to expand coverage for weight-loss drugs Wegovy, Zepbound It’s unclear how the incoming Trump administration, which would have to finalize the rule, will view it

https://www.statnews.com/2024/11/26/white-house-medicare-medicaid-obesity-wegovy-zepbound/?utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--bKd1wyWTQROmDKNAgQdjDt4KiJitvYyFXGroTQiZkSM78kKjr3XrReZflB5e5kS4j-uW72yzrdAc9ScBV4X7Ae6ULgA&_hsmi=335726013&utm_content=335726013&utm_source=hs_email WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is proposing a major expansion of how Medicare and Medicaid cover the blockbuster weight loss drugs Wegovy and Zepbound, the White House announced Tuesday. Medicare currently covers the medications made by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly to treat diabetes and heart disease, but not for obesity alone because it’s prohibited by law from doing so. Given the price tag, a bill in Congress to extend coverage has stalled for years. The White House estimates the new proposal would provide coverage to an estimated 3.4 million older adults in the Medicare program, and 4 million people in Medicaid. The proposal would go into effect in 2026, but it's unclear whether the incoming Trump administration would support such a measure, or would work to roll it back.