President Biden just moved to put a powerful new tool in place to improve Americans’ health – allowing access to drugs developed in part to facilitate weight loss. As reported by the Associated Press:
Millions of Americans with obesity would be eligible to have popular weight-loss drugs like Wegovy or Zepbound covered by Medicare or Medicaid under a new rule the Biden administration proposed Tuesday morning.
The costly proposal from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services immediately sets the stage for a showdown between the powerful pharmaceutical industry and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an outspoken opponent of the weight-loss drugs who, as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the agency, could block the measure.
Obviously the drugs are not for everyone. Just as obviously it is damned expensive and wow, would it ever be a big gift to the manufacturers of Wegovy and Zepbound. They will almost surely raise prices in the near term knowing that it’s on the government’s dime. But this represents a big long-term investment that both improves individual health while also saving money for Medicare and Medicaid into the future with healthier people getting less sick at later ages.
But it sure goes against Robert F. Kennedy’s view of the world. He strongly advocates healthy eating and exercise – which is and always will be the gold standard and tried first. It just doesn’t work for everyone and will be but “one” new and powerful tool that Americans would now have at their disposal. It will almost certainly cause a big fight because the rule won’t become effective until the first days of the Trump administration. Kennedy and Trump can block it – or allow it to go through.
The fight will be worth watching – not as entertainment, but to gauge just how much power Kennedy might wield in the new administration. To be sure, he has yet to speak about how he will respond to the new coverage, nor has President-elect Donald Trump – for that matter. But use of such tools goes against RFK’s message to Americans. He promised to get Americans “off” more medication.
The problem, of course, is that people like having these options – especially when they work, and really don’t like having options then taken away. It puts enormous pressure on Kennedy and Trump. People like how they feel carrying less weight and obesity impact many patients. Again from the AP:
People can lose as much as 15% to 25% of their body weight on the drugs, which imitate the hormones that regulate appetites by communicating fullness between the gut and brain when people eat. Research suggests far more people might qualify, with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimating roughly 28 million people on Medicaid are considered obese.
Up until now, the drugs were primarily used by only the wealthy because a monthly supply of Wegovy rings up at $1,300 and Zepbound is “cheap” at $1,000. It is quite obvious that without coverage very few people will be able to avail themselves of such life-changing medicine. (Which also says a lot about American “for profit” healthcare.) As most know, weight-loss is a positive feedback loop, sometimes weight loss itself spurns exercise and healthier eating, sort of a “force multiplier” effect. It would have widespread positive impacts, especially if the government bargains such that prices are brought down – also likely to be an option down the road.
So a battle seems to be in the works. The Trump administration should just simply say “Thanks! We were going to do the exact same thing” and take credit for it without changing a thing. If it goes wrong – somehow, they can always blame the Biden administration. Do not expect such a response. No, expect a fight and then be left pleasantly surprised if it goes smoothly through.
Meanwhile, we should all eat healthier and exercise without regard to any of this. It decreases stress, if nothing else.
God Bless: I can be reached at [email protected] and @JasonMiciak and now on Blue Sky – a great new place.
The government would benefit because those on medicaid and medicare would need less drugs and care for cardiovascular issues, diabetes, etc. Of course, they can always cut those programs and just let the people suffer and die. Which I am afraid is what they will do.
That IS the Trump health care plan. Everybody gets covered.
You get sick, you die and they pull up the sheet.
Viola…you’re covered.
Why not start with Dumbo the nazi president elect? He’s at least a 100 lbs overweight.
He’s not on the government dole, so doesn’t apply to him. But I do agree.
Most of that fat is in his head too.
Wow what took so long? 4 years now, and comes up with health plans as exiting. How about universal health for us. Ukrainian resources more important.