For more than two decades, a law has prohibited Medicare from paying for weight loss drugs, cutting off access to millions of potential patients who could stand to benefit. This ban has become more apparent with the approval of expensive drugs such as Wegovy and Zepbound by the Food and Drug Administration, which are financially out of reach for many without insurance coverage, NBC News reports.
On Thursday, the House Ways and Means Committee advanced legislation known as The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2023, marking a significant step towards overturning this prohibition, according to Becker's Healthcare. The bill proposes to allow Medicare coverage for weight loss medications under certain conditions, such as individuals being prescribed the drugs for at least one year before transitioning to Medicare.
