Source: Financial Times [UK]
“US President Joe Biden has proposed a massive expansion of government coverage of weight-loss drugs to include obese patients who do not have separate health conditions. The move, which would have to be approved by Donald Trump’s incoming administration, would make Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound available at a reduced price to people covered by the state-backed Medicare and Medicaid insurance programmes. Expanding coverage could cost tens of billions of dollars. The number of additional potentially eligible patients under Medicare, which provides coverage for over-65s, is 3.4mn. A further 4mn Americans could be eligible under Medicaid, which applies to people with limited income and resources.” (11/26/24)