Investing.com -- The Biden administration has proposed a new rule requiring Medicare and Medicaid to cover weight loss medications for patients treating obesity. Announced on Tuesday, the measure would significantly expand access to drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro.
The research found disparities in access to weight loss drugs. Data from health analytics firm PurpleLab shows that 85% of semaglutide prescriptions, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, were filled by white patients in 2023. Without insurance coverage, the high cost of these drugs poses a significant barrier for low- and middle-income individuals.“Our Medicare and Medicaid populations are some of the most at-risk and they do not have access to any anti-obesity medication,” Dr.
Weight loss drugs like Wegovy are injectable treatments containing semaglutide, a compound that mimics GLP-1, a hormone that regulates blood sugar, metabolism, and appetite. This expansion could reshape treatment options for millions while addressing health disparities and the economic barriers to managing obesity.Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events.