The new rule would expand access to drugs such as Wegovy and Zepbound for an additional 3.4 million Americans who use Medicare and another 4 million people enrolled in Medicaid.

Summary

The Biden administration proposed requiring Medicare and Medicaid to cover weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, reclassifying obesity as a chronic disease to expand access for millions.

This would reduce out-of-pocket costs, but federal spending could rise by $36 billion over a decade.

Critics, like Sen. Bernie Sanders, warn high drug prices could strain the system, while experts argue reduced obesity-related complications may lower long-term healthcare costs.

The plan faces a 60-day comment period, leaving its implementation uncertain under the incoming Trump administration.

    • pivot_root@lemmy.worldEnglish
      7·
      15 hours ago

      From the ones I have talked with, the Trump voter mindset seems to be “Democrats don’t know the struggles of the real world” while Mr. Untouchable apparently does. Considering how deep into the partisan kool-aid they are, this is actually not surprising.