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Trump Administration Nixes Plan To Allow Medicare Coverage Of Obesity Drugs
The Trump administration has rescinded a plan drafted by the Biden administration to lift the prohibition on coverage of obesity medicines by Medicare and significantly expand access to these products in Medicaid. The proposed rule change, which would have allowed Medicare plans to cover anti-obesity medications in their outpatient benefit called Part D, was issued in November 2024.
The proposal aimed to reinterpret the statutory regulation to permit coverage of such medications and also required Medicaid programs to cover obesity drugs as well. However, this plan has been scrapped by the Trump administration.
Under current law, Medicare coverage for products prescribed solely for weight loss has been prohibited for more than two decades. It is worth noting that the Biden administration’s proposed rule change would have allowed Medicare plans to cover anti-obesity medications in their outpatient benefit called Part D and also required Medicaid programs to cover these drugs.
This decision will have significant implications for millions of Americans who are struggling with weight-related issues, as it means that they may not be able to access potentially life-changing treatments.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshuacohen/2025/04/05/trump-administration-nixes-plan-to-allow-medicare-coverage-of-obesity-drugs/
