STAT June 26, 2024
WASHINGTON — As weight loss medications have exploded in popularity, a bill to allow Medicare to cover the drugs has languished virtually unchanged in Congress for a decade.
Until now.
House Ways & Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) unveiled a proposal on Wednesday to offer a limited pathway for seniors to get their weight loss drugs paid for by Medicare. Right now, Medicare is prohibited from covering medications used for weight loss, like Wegovy and Zepbound.
The new plan is significantly more restrictive than prior proposals. It’s primarily targeted at making sure that people currently taking weight loss drugs don’t get kicked off when they enter the Medicare program, such as by turning 65.
It would only apply to...
Today's Sponsors
Today's Sponsor