November 15, 2025 — Anyone who thought this would be a passing thing was way off the mark. As prices of GLP-1 medicines are falling, their use is rising. As Stat News notes, we now have more people using these medicines than the entire population of Texas. This rising trend occurs against a background of costs that are still […]
November 3, 2025 — A year ago, we had these wonderful new obesity medicines – semaglutide and tirzepatide – and nobody could get them. Demand had outstripped supply and we had a shortage. Earlier this year, the supply shortage for both drugs resolved, but now we face the same situation because of a different shortage. There is a shortage […]
April 9, 2025 — As everyone digests the news that CMS has chosen not to expand coverage of obesity medicines under Medicare and Medicaid “at this time,” it is becoming clear the door is not closed. HHS told Bndpoints News: “CMS may consider future policy options for obesity medications pending further review of both the potential benefits of these […]
March 27, 2025 — Yesterday in JAMA Network Open, researchers from the University of Michigan published a finding that older Americans say Medicare should indeed cover obesity medicines. Authors Lauren Oshman and colleagues present straightforward conclusions: “In this survey study of older US adults, most participants agreed that Medicare should cover weight management medications and more than half of […]
February 20, 2025 — A new study of public opinion released today finds overwhelming support for access to obesity medicines in Medicare. In this polling, 79% of Republicans, 66% of independents, and 73% of Democrats support the Trump administration taking final action to provide coverage for these medicines under Medicare, just like medicines for any other chronic condition. Given […]
January 20, 2025 — Two years ago, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed a bill into law to provide better access to obesity care under the state’s Medicaid program. This includes access to GLP-1 medicines. Now, it seems, the state is flouting the law. So people with obesity who rely on Medicaid are left out in the cold if they […]
October 18, 2024 — We are seeing a subtle, but important shift in the way scholars of population health are looking at obesity and the people it affects. At one time, the implicit bias was to discount those who already have the disease. There’s little we can do for them was the thought behind this. Sometimes it was even […]
August 27, 2024 — That was quick. At about 6 am today, we posted to say that obesity drug prices are stuck in the spotlight. “Bold leadership on obesity drug pricing and access to care is the only thing that will bring relief from this uncomfortable spotlight,” we wrote. Before the end of the hour, Lilly took the cue. […]
June 20, 2024 — It’s quite weird, actually, watching the contortions of health plans as they twist to resist the rising tide of obesity medicines. Because despite the twisting and contortions, obesity medicines are as difficult to resist as a rising tide. Those who pretend it is not happening find themselves under water. A new survey from the International […]
November 17, 2023 — It’s not easy. Getting access to good obesity care and maintaining it is a challenge that is especially frustrating as we see that the options for care are improving. But it seems that health systems right now are rigged to interrupt obesity treatment. An illustration of this comes from a recent study published in Obesity. […]
