Washington Examiner

Bill introduced to increase availability of weight loss medications.

Sens.‌ Cassidy and ‌Carper Introduce ​TROA to Expand⁣ Obesity‌ Treatment⁤ for Medicare⁢ Recipients

Sens.​ Bill ⁢Cassidy (R-LA) ⁢and Tom Carper (D-DE), ⁣along with‍ Reps. Brad⁣ Wenstrup (R-OH) and⁤ Raul Ruiz⁣ (D-CA),⁢ are introducing the Treat and Reduce Obesity ⁣Act, or TROA, in ‍both‌ chambers of ⁤Congress‌ on‌ Thursday, an ​effort ⁣to expand‌ chronic ‍obesity⁢ medication and ⁣treatment ⁢to Medicare ‍recipients.

“There⁤ is ‍a ‌clear need ⁣to address obesity,” Cassidy, the ranking member of the Senate‍ Health, ‌Education,⁢ Labor,⁤ and Pensions ⁣Committee,⁤ said. “Expanding‌ Medicare coverage to⁤ the treatments⁢ patients‌ need ‌enables‌ them⁤ to ‍improve their ​health ⁢and ​benefits us all.”

Social⁣ Security⁢ Update:⁣ Direct Payment ‌Worth Up ⁢to $4,555 Goes Out to Millions Today

According ‌to ‌the​ bill, ‍an ⁢estimated⁣ 41%⁣ of ⁤Americans over⁢ the age⁢ of 60‌ were⁣ obese ‍in⁣ 2015, ​and the National Institutes ⁤of Health reported⁢ that 300,000​ deaths ⁢per​ year ​are‍ attributable to the obesity ​epidemic.

“On average,⁢ a ⁣Medicare beneficiary ⁤with ‌obesity‌ costs ⁢$2,018 ‍(in ⁢2019 ⁣dollars) more than ⁢a ​healthy-weight beneficiary,” ‌reads ‌the bill, with the “direct‍ and indirect costs ⁤of obesity”​ being nearly ⁣$428 billion in 2014.

“With⁤ obesity‍ rates on‌ the rise in⁢ our country, we ‍must‌ do⁢ more⁤ to combat​ this ‍epidemic⁣ head-on,” ​Carper ⁤said.⁤ “Too ⁤many ​of those ‍in⁣ need are ⁤being⁣ denied⁤ care ⁢because of the high cost of‍ medications‌ or inaccessible treatment options.”

TROA would ​extend⁤ coverage ⁢for intensive ⁢behavioral⁢ therapy to intensive behavioral therapy ​for ⁤treating obesity​ that ⁢can be administered either ⁣by⁣ a ⁣physician ⁣or by‌ physician⁣ referral to ‌a ‌hospital or weight loss medications.”>community-based ‌counseling program.

The ⁤bill ⁢would also⁣ expand Medicare Part D coverage to‍ include drugs⁣ such as Wegovy, which is⁣ prescribed on-label​ for weight⁣ loss,⁣ and Ozempic, ‌which has⁤ grown‌ in⁢ popularity in recent​ months as a​ weight loss⁤ drug.

Novo‌ Nordisk, the maker⁤ of ‍both‍ Ozempic ‍and Wegovy, hired‌ a‌ lobbying ⁣firm in May‍ to push for the drugs to⁣ be included in Medicare coverage⁤ for⁣ the purposes‍ of weight loss‍ and‌ obesity management.‍ Ozempic ​is currently only covered⁣ by Medicare for Type 2⁣ diabetes treatment, as per ​its⁣ Food‌ and Drug Administration ⁢approval.

Carper‌ has ⁤worked with ‍multiple stakeholders ‍since 2013 to ‍expand ⁣obesity medicine⁣ coverage,⁤ including ⁣medication and‍ behavioral⁢ treatments⁢ and ⁣preventive ‌care.

Recent research published‌ in ‌Nature Metabolism suggests that obesity changes ‌the ⁢way‌ the⁢ brain processes ​nutrient intake, with​ an ⁤imbalance​ between⁣ the gut and⁤ the brain leading​ to‌ overeating and not feeling full.

Angela Fitch, the ​president of⁤ the ​Obesity Medicine Association, previously‌ told‍ the Washington Examiner that obesity ‍should be recognized as⁣ a ⁣disease state and,⁤ as such, medications ⁣ought⁢ to⁢ be covered as ‌a ⁤standard benefit by ‌health insurance,⁣ including‍ Medicare.

CLICK HERE TO ⁢READ MORE FROM THE ⁢WASHINGTON ‌EXAMINER

“If ‌you ask 10 people ​on the‍ street, ‘How⁣ do ‌you ⁤treat breast ⁤cancer?’ ​… I ⁣guarantee there’s not ‌going to be one person who says⁤ you can ‌just will ‍it⁤ away,” Fitch​ said.

“We ‍cannot stand idly⁤ by‍ while ‌this disease⁣ continues‍ to claim lives through​ related⁤ illnesses ⁢that are⁢ preventable and ⁢treatable,”⁤ Carper ⁣said. ‌”I’m proud of ​our bipartisan​ and bicameral‍ legislation to⁢ open the door⁤ for Medicare to⁤ provide Americans with ‌every‌ available treatment and tool for reducing obesity’s ‌physical, social, and⁤ financial costs.”



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