The Trump administration announced Friday that Medicare and Medicaid will not cover popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic for obesity treatment. While the Biden administration had proposed expanding coverage for these medications last November—potentially benefiting over 7 million people—the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) now says the change is “not appropriate at this time.”
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has criticized GLP-1 drugs, arguing that the obesity crisis should be addressed through better nutrition and exercise.
In a past Fox News interview, Kennedy accused pharmaceutical companies of targeting Americans due to their drug dependency.
CMS had projected the proposed policy would cost Medicare $25 billion and Medicaid $15 billion over a decade. While these drugs require continuous use and do not cure obesity, they are already covered for treating diabetes and heart disease.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, recently confirmed as CMS head, has expressed support for the medications, noting their benefits for weight loss.
CMS indicated it may revisit the coverage decision after further evaluating the drugs’ long-term value and cost.
