Biden will propose that obesity drugs be covered by Medicare and Medicaid

US President Joe Biden is going to propose expanding drug coverage to treat obesity for millions of people on Medicare and Medicaid, Reuters reports.

According to a White House official, this you will save up to 95%. Thus, more Americans will be able to afford new weight loss medications, which can also help prevent type 2 diabetes and reduce the risk of dying from heart attacks by up to 20%. Without coverage they cost about $1,000 a month.

Currently, Medicare and Medcaid cover the use of medications such as Mounjaro or Ozempic and Wegov to treat certain diseases such as diabetesbut not for obesity alone.

This new proposal, which will be published this Tuesday by the Department of Health, will extend access to some 3.4 million people in the case of Medicare. Likewise, it will ensure medications for approximately 4 million people with Medicaid, the White House has stated.

Associations in the pharmaceutical industry have presented at least eight lawsuits to block the programarguing that it is unconstitutional and gives too much power to federal regulators.

During his first term, President-elect Donald Trump also attempted to reduce drug prices in 2020, but the move was later blocked by a federal judge.