West Virginia Governor and Senator-elect, Jim Justice, expressed his support for President Joe Biden’s administration’s plan to expand access to costly weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. However, he also acknowledged that their high prices might be a concern. The Biden administration announced a proposal to reinterpret a federal law to include these drugs in Medicare part D coverage and require Medicaid to cover them for obesity treatment.
Governor Justice highlighted the need for sustainability in addressing the cost of these drugs. He emphasized the potential health benefits and cost-saving aspects of expanding access. Justice, who is currently taking Ozempic and has lost significant weight, believes that wider access to these drugs could be beneficial for everyone.
However, the high cost of these drugs has been a contentious issue. Premiums for the West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency are proposed to rise due to the costs of drugs like Ozempic. The proposal would require significant federal and state spending, but could potentially benefit millions of Medicare beneficiaries.
The proposal is expected to cost billions of dollars but aims to improve transparency, accountability, and consumer protections in Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. Health and Human Services Secretary, Xavier Becerra, emphasized the importance of providing high-quality care to Medicare recipients. Governor Justice’s support for the plan reflects the ongoing debate over expanding access to weight-loss drugs in West Virginia, the state with the highest obesity rate in the country.
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Photo credit westvirginiawatch.com
