Politico December 2, 2025
States are choosing not to cover the new weight-loss drugs, sacrificing a chance to stem cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
Breakthroughs in weight-loss medicine are presenting state Medicaid officials with what looks like a sure bet: Spend big now to cover the drugs and reap savings when diabetes, heart disease and cancer rates drop.
States are hesitating to take it.
The few states that have decided to cover drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy to help the nearly 40 percent of patients who are obese in the state-federal program for low-income people are finding they’re blowing holes in their budgets.
“It keeps us up at night,” said Jody Terranova, the medical director of Connecticut’s Medicaid program, which pared back coverage of...
Today's Sponsors
Today's Sponsor