(ReclaimingAmerica.net) – In another step in the outgoing administration’s seemingly unending quest for government overreach, lame-duck President Joe Biden has proposed to extend Medicare and Medicaid coverage to include obesity.
As costs mount, many conservatives worry about the strain on taxpayer dollars and the repercussions of such expansive policies.
Questions abound as to whether this proposal will tackle America’s obesity problem, or it is just another costly liberal policy experiment.
The Biden administration has proposed a rule that would allow weight-loss drugs, like Wegovy and Ozempic, to be covered by Medicare and Medicaid.
This would change a longstanding law that prevents Medicare from covering weight-loss products, recognizing obesity as a treatable disease.
Potentially 3.5 million Medicare recipients and 4 million Medicaid users may qualify for this drug coverage, ABC27 reports.
This proposal is likely to meet resistance from figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who Trump nominated as Health Secretary, due to his stance against covering these drugs.
He suggests investing in healthier diets and gym memberships instead, highlighting the potential extravagance of Biden’s plan.
The rule could cost up to $35 billion over the next decade, with the federal government shouldering $25 billion for Medicare and $11 billion for Medicaid.
“It’s a good day for anyone who suffers from obesity,” declared U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, cited by CNBC.
Backing this proposal is a bipartisan congressional group believing it could save costs related to obesity-linked illnesses by making medications accessible to millions unable to afford them.
Currently, the price of these drugs ranges from $1,000 to $1,300 monthly, often limiting their use to wealthier individuals.
The proposal seeks to provide coverage to individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above, expanding access to potentially lifesaving treatments.
This expansion could potentially narrow racial disparities in drug access, where a disproportionate number of prescriptions are given to white individuals under current systems.
However, critics are wary of the financial implications of covering these expensive drugs, with less than 20% of large companies offering health insurance plans that cover them.
Reducing healthcare expenses related to untreated obesity is an argument in favor, balancing immediate costs against long-term savings.
“For half the price of Ozempic, we could purchase regeneratively raised, organic food for every American, three meals a day and a gym membership, for every obese American,” Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has objected.
The proposal’s fate is uncertain, pending a 60-day public comment period and depending on the stance of the incoming Trump administration, which may oppose expanding government coverage.
Copyright 2024, ReclaimingAmerica.net
