The Biden administration previously put forward a rule aimed at reinterpreting a statute that prevented the federal government from covering drugs “when used for weight loss,” as opposed to treating diabetes.
But the Trump administration believes finalizing such a proposal “is not appropriate at this time.”
“CMS may consider future policy options for AOMs pending further review of both the potential benefits of these drugs including updated clinical indications, and relevant costs including fiscal impacts on stakeholders such as state Medicaid agencies,” Catherine Howden, a spokeswoman, told CBS News.
Had the Trump administration let the proposal go forward, it could’ve cost them billions as weight-loss drugs are expensive. Drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound both cost roughly $1,000 before insurance. A congressional analysis pegged the exact cost at $34 billion if the drugs were covered through Medicare by 2034.
The drugs have been proven to help obese patients lose weight and reduce the risk of heart disease.
The Biden administration had said because obesity was a disease, it should be covered by Medicare’s Part D prescription drug benefit. Expanding coverage would’ve also impacted state Medicaid plans.
“CMS’ revised interpretation would recognize obesity to be a chronic disease based on changes in medical consensus,” the agency had said last year.
TRACKING WHAT DOGE IS DOING ACROSS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
But the Department of Health and Human Services doesn’t appear to be for weight-loss drugs, if the past opinions of Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stand today.
“If we just gave good food, three meals a day, to every man, woman and child in our country, we could solve the obesity and diabetes epidemic overnight,” he said to Fox News before the election. He said that the drug’s maker, Novo Nordisk, is “counting on selling it to Americans because we are so stupid and so addicted to drugs.”
