Biden Proposes Medicare, Medicaid Cover Wegovy, Mounjaro for 7 Million Americans

Nov 26, 2024, 10:32 AM

President Joe Biden's administration has proposed a new rule that would require Medicare and Medicaid to cover costly weight-loss drugs for millions of Americans with obesity. The proposal aims to expand access to medications such as Novo Nordisk's ($NVO) Wegovy and Ozempic, and Eli Lilly's ($LLY) Mounjaro and Zepbound, potentially making these treatments accessible to over 7 million people, including approximately 3.4 million Medicare recipients and 4 million Medicaid adults. By recognizing obesity as a disease that can be treated with these drugs, the rule would represent a significant shift in healthcare policy. Currently, Medicare pays for limited use of weight-loss drugs. The proposal would need to be finalized by the new administration.