OCAN Letter to House Energy and Commerce Committee Leadership Urging Action on the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act
by OCAN
The Obesity Care Advocacy Network (OCAN) urges the Energy and Commerce Committee to take action on the revised version of HR 4818, the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA), as reported out of the House Ways & Means Committee on June 27, 2024. Chairman Jason Smith’s amended version of TROA represents an important incremental step toward improving obesity care coverage for many older Americans.
Under the revised Ways and Means legislation, Medicare would allow Part D prescription drug coverage for FDA-approved obesity medications for those older Americans who are continuously taking these medications under their covered health plan during the 12-month period prior to becoming a Medicare beneficiary. This grandfathering approach would ensure that these individuals would not have their treatment eliminated or interrupted when they become eligible for Medicare. In addition, the legislation would require the Department of Health and Human Services to initiate a reconsideration of its national coverage determination for intensive behavioral therapy for obesity within one year of enactment of the bill.
Chairman Smith’s amended version of TROA was passed by the Committee on a strong bipartisan vote of 36 to 4 following a robust debate highlighting how the grandfathering approach would ensure that many Americans, including those with Medicaid in many states, would maintain access to these critical medications. This approach would ensure continued coverage for potentially 26.2 million Medicaid beneficiaries, 4.2 million state employees, and 1.4 million Americans in state health exchange plans where these plans currently provide obesity medication coverage.
OCAN understands the desire of many members of Congress who support more comprehensive coverage as well as the concerns of others over total cost of the bill. However, we believe that the Ways and Means Committee reported version of TROA is the most viable vehicle that can successfully navigate passage on the House floor.
We urge the Energy and Commerce Committee to continue to move this legislation forward and we stand ready to help in any way that you need.