DLC and DPAC are Disappointed in the CMS Decision Not to Extend Obesity Treatment Coverage to Medicare & Medicaid Beneficiaries

Diabetes Leadership Council and Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition are Disappointed in theCMS Decision Not to Extend Obesity Treatment Coverage to Medicare & Medicaid Beneficiaries

April 8, 2025

The Diabetes Leadership Council (DLC) and Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition (DPAC) are deeplydisappointed with the decision by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to not finalizecoverage of obesity medications for beneficiaries with Medicare and Medicaid. Coverage of safe,effective treatments for the chronic condition of obesity is crucial to preventing and addressing the risein comorbidities including type 2 diabetes. Obesity rates in the U.S. have increased dramatically over thelast 30 years, leaving Americans vulnerable to more than 200 other serious health conditions includingdiabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. We care deeply about this coverage becauseaccess to proven obesity treatment and therapy is crucial to effectively preventing and managing theonset of diabetes.. Failing to treat obesity, a recognized chronic disease, will only lead to worse healthoutcomes for Americans.

Not only would the proposal have improved the health of Americans, but it was also broadly supportedby the American public. In a poll conducted by DPAC, 73% of those polled supported Medicare andMedicaid coverage of GLP-1 medications, including a majority of Republicans, Democrats, andIndependents alike. This decision means that individuals covered by Medicare are unfairly preventedfrom treating their condition and are at higher risk of costly comorbid conditions as a result. DLC andDPAC look forward to working with Congress to introduce legislation to cover obesity medications andtreatment for Medicare beneficiaries, and to working with all health plans to obtain coverage forindividuals battling this disease.

News
>

Diabetes Leadership Council and Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition are Disappointed in theCMS Decision Not to Extend Obesity Treatment Coverage to Medicare & Medicaid Beneficiaries

April 8, 2025

The Diabetes Leadership Council (DLC) and Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition (DPAC) are deeplydisappointed with the decision by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to not finalizecoverage of obesity medications for beneficiaries with Medicare and Medicaid. Coverage of safe,effective treatments for the chronic condition of obesity is crucial to preventing and addressing the risein comorbidities including type 2 diabetes. Obesity rates in the U.S. have increased dramatically over thelast 30 years, leaving Americans vulnerable to more than 200 other serious health conditions includingdiabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. We care deeply about this coverage becauseaccess to proven obesity treatment and therapy is crucial to effectively preventing and managing theonset of diabetes.. Failing to treat obesity, a recognized chronic disease, will only lead to worse healthoutcomes for Americans.

Not only would the proposal have improved the health of Americans, but it was also broadly supportedby the American public. In a poll conducted by DPAC, 73% of those polled supported Medicare andMedicaid coverage of GLP-1 medications, including a majority of Republicans, Democrats, andIndependents alike. This decision means that individuals covered by Medicare are unfairly preventedfrom treating their condition and are at higher risk of costly comorbid conditions as a result. DLC andDPAC look forward to working with Congress to introduce legislation to cover obesity medications andtreatment for Medicare beneficiaries, and to working with all health plans to obtain coverage forindividuals battling this disease.