Biden administration pushes expansion of Medicare and Medicaid to cover weight loss drugs - Washington Examiner

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

58% : "Lamenting when he endorsed Trump in August that sick people are "the best thing for the pharmaceutical industry" because "they are put on medications for their entire life," Kennedy added, "Imagine what will happen when Medicaid starts paying for Ozempic, which costs $1,500 a month and is being recommended for children as young as six.
51% : "Since 74% of Americans are obese, the costs [for Medicaid to cover Ozempic] could be as high as $3 trillion a year.
50% : On Tuesday, the Biden administration's top health agency announced it planned to reinterpret existing rules to require Medicare and Medicaid to cover costs for Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy for people insured under the health programs.
44% : But the Biden administration's rule change would expand access to prescription drugs for 3.4 million people who are enrolled in Medicare and another 4 million people who use Medicaid, the White House said.
44% : The majority of state Medicaid programs do not cover weight loss drugs only for obesity, while Medicare only covers weight loss drugs for obese or overweight people with a diagnosis of diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
44% : "His words come as lawmakers have pushed for more than a year for the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2023, which would require insurance companies to cover the cost of Ozempic.

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