Becker's Healthcare August 15, 2024
Medicare spending could increase between $3.1 billion and $6.1 billion annually if the program covers GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, a study published Aug. 15 in Health Affairs found.
Under current law, Medicare cannot pay for any drug prescribed solely for weight loss.
Researchers modeled two different cost scenarios that could occur if Medicare covers GLP-1 drugs for weight loss. Though Medicare does not cover GLP-1 drugs for weight loss only, it does cover the drugs to treat diabetes.
If Medicare expanded coverage of weight loss drugs, 10.9 million Medicare beneficiaries with obesity or overweight diagnoses would become eligible for the drug, the study’s authors estimated.
If 5% of eligible beneficiaries begin using GLP-1 drugs, Medicare costs...
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