Obesity Medicine Physician Discusses Potential Medicare Changes
featured comments from obesity medicine physician , assistant professor at the College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM), in an article about proposed Medicare and Medicaid expansions, which would extend coverage to include FDA-approved anti-obesity medications. A coalition of around 20,000 advocates and twelve major healthcare groups has called on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to include these medications, a change they say would potentially benefit up to 7.5 million Americans.聽
鈥淗igh cost of anti-obesity treatments and lack of insurance coverage remain major barriers for patients who need these medications. It is an issue of equity in healthcare that we face every day,鈥� says Yusupov. 鈥淭oo often, our most disadvantaged patients are not able to obtain highly effective anti-obesity medications. The policy change will improve access to medications that are now recommended by evidence-based guidelines to prevent diabetes, improve heart health, and enhance quality of life for many patients.鈥�