Trump Administration Expands Medicare Coverage for Weight Loss Drugs

Donald Trump announced a plan to reduce costs and expand access to weight loss drugs for certain patients covered by public health insurance. The initiative includes making oral versions of GLP-1 drugs available for $150 a month for starting doses, while injectable versions from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk will see their prices reduced and coverage expanded.

The injectables, known by brand names such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, will average about $350 but are projected to trend down to $245 a month over two years. For Medicare beneficiaries, the cost will be set at $245 a month, with only $50 required as a co-pay.

The Trump administration's announcement indicates that state Medicaid programs could also access these reduced prices if they choose to opt in. Trump referred to these medications as the 'fat drug,' emphasizing their role in addressing obesity, a significant public health concern in the U.S.

The health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., predicted that Americans would collectively lose 125 million pounds within a year due to this program. The coverage will allow Medicare to include drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound for patients with obesity or related comorbidities for the first time, expanding access beyond just those with diabetes or other specific health conditions.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, stated that the plan aims to democratize access to these medications, and he believes the increased cost of covering these drugs will be budget-neutral within two years due to savings from obesity-related healthcare issues.

This policy change comes as part of Trump’s broader effort to negotiate lower prescription drug prices, aligning U.S. prices with those seen in other countries. The Biden administration had also sought to make weight-loss drugs more affordable, indicating a continued focus on this issue across administrations.

According to the report from The Guardian, the move addresses the rising obesity rates in the country and aims to enhance public health through increased access to essential medications.