Republicans are divided over a decision that will soon reach President Donald Trump’s desk: Should the government expand coverage of popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic?
Thanks to President Joe Biden’s comments, party lawmakers may consider the issue soon after the president-elect takes office. suggestion Late last month, it announced expanded coverage of anti-obesity drugs for Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries. This is a plan that will cost $35 billion over 10 years starting in 2026. According to Congressional Budget Office – This high number will strengthen the anti-Ozempik movement led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services.
President Kennedy called for a focus instead on lifestyle-based strategies such as healthy eating and exercise. Meanwhile, President Trump has chosen Mehmet Oz, a well-known doctor, to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and he has openly promoted Ozempic.
Once in office, Trump will have the power to rescind the Biden administration’s anti-obesity drug program without formal input from Hill, but Republicans in Congress are likely to want a say on the issue. This will require coordinating internal government discussions about whether to deny new federal funding for drugs or agree to short-term spending in hopes of reducing long-term costs for obesity-related diseases. .
“Obesity is not a disease; it is a side effect of many factors, including an unhealthy diet,” Rep. Diana Hershberger (R-Tenn.), a licensed pharmacist, told Semaphore. “No, I don’t agree with that, because it would put us in a dire situation and drain us of funds.”
That stance puts her at odds with some members of the Republican Medical Association, which is made up of 19 medical experts in Congress. Some in the caucus support legislation that would allow Medicare and Medicaid to pay for weight loss drugs, as Biden has advocated.
Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, said his bill on the subject would simply require that weight loss drugs be FDA-approved and used under medical supervision, along with behavioral health and nutritionists. It said it creates a more comprehensive approach than the government’s application.
“If you want to fight obesity and you have a tool that seems to work, go for it, but with close monitoring,” Wenstrup, co-chair of the medical association, told Semaphore. spoke.
