OCAN Applauds the Administration's Efforts to Expand Access to Obesity Medications Under Medicare & Medicaid

Washington, D.C. - The Obesity Care Advocacy Network (OCAN) applauds the Trump administration for taking historic and decisive steps to make life-changing obesity medications more accessible and affordable for millions of Americans.

The announced agreements will enable Medicare and Medicaid to cover obesity medications at significantly lower costs, marking the first time such coverage will be available for older adults with obesity.

These are transformative steps that will make a real difference for millions of Americans living with obesity, lowering barriers to comprehensive care and representing a historic opportunity to reverse the obesity epidemic when coupled with intensive behavioral therapy (IBT) and metabolic and bariatric surgery.

We would also like to recognize the tireless work of the entire obesity advocacy community. It is their persistent efforts that have helped to achieve this policy milestone and ensure that policymakers are fully aware of the significance of providing access to these critical, evidence-based obesity medications.

But this progress must not stop here. Congress should build on this momentum by passing the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA)—legislation that would ensure Medicare access to the full range of obesity care, including expansion of the intensive behavioral therapy benefit. 

OCAN remains committed to advancing comprehensive, evidence-based solutions that improve obesity care so that every American has the opportunity to achieve better health and quality of life.