The American Medical Association wants insurance companies and federal payers to fully cover a new class of obesity treatments like Wegovy and Ozempic, even as plans search for ways to avoid paying for the high cost of the drugs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The organization voted Monday to pass a resolution supporting \u201chealth insurance coverage parity for evidence-based treatment of obesity, including FDA-approved medications without exclusions or additional carve-outs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The AMA said it regards obesity as a disease that poses a major health concern and can put patients at risk for serious health consequences if left untreated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The vote from the nation\u2019s top physician lobby ratchets up pressure on insurers and the federal government. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Federal law bars Medicare from covering weight-loss drugs, though Congress is considering taking steps to change the policy. Private insurers have been unwilling to cover weight-loss drugs because they are viewed as lifestyle or cosmetic medicine and not essential. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Diabetes treatments like Ozempic and Mounjaro have been used off-label for weight loss, but a new class of medicines called GLP-1 treatments like Wegovy and Zepbound are now officially approved by the Food and Drug Administration for obesity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They can help patients lose a dramatic amount of weight, but cost more than $1,000 a month. In addition, almost half the country may be eligible because so many people are considered overweight or obese. As a result, insurers have been instituting policies like lifetime coverage caps, onerous paperwork rules, or even outright refusal to cover the FDA-approved drugs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe costs for the patient and broader health care system associated with obesity, including the treatment of weight-related conditions and potential complications, can be substantial,\u201d AMA said. \u201cIt is crucial to recognize the urgency of addressing this disease comprehensively and proactively through a range of suitable treatments.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n