The cost of expanding U.S. Medicare prescription drug coverage to pay for expensive, new obesity medications could be catastrophic, health economists warned in a report published on Saturday.
Health economists writing in The New England Journal of Medicine estimate that if 10% of Medicare recipients with obesity diagnoses used prescription weight loss drugs, annual part D spending would be $26.8 billion for Wegovy compared with $1.32 billion for a generic version older Qysmia from Vivus Inc.
"The burden of obesity and obesity-related conditions is unquestionably high, but the value of Medicare coverage of antiobesity medications remains unclear," they said, adding that more research is needed to know whether weight loss induced by these drugs translates to better long-term health outcomes.
Obesity prevalence in the United States is 41.5% among adults aged 60 and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
FACT SHEET: The President’s Budget: Extending Medicare Solvency by 25 Years or More, Strengthening Medicare, and Lowering Health Care Costs | The White HouseThe President’s FY 2024 Budget will lay out President Biden’s plan to invest in America, lower costs for families, protect and strengthen Social Security and Medicare, and reduce the deficit. Millions of Americans have been working their whole lives, paying into Medicare with every working day, and want to know that they can count on…
Read more »
Nikki Haley floats changes to retirement age to protect Medicare, Social SecurityFormer South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley says younger generations should prepare for a revamped retirement age and limits on Medicare and Social Security benefits for wealthier Americans so the entitlement programs can remain solvent.
Read more »
Inside the mind of criminals: How to brazenly steal $100 billion from Medicare and MedicaidMedicare fraud runs the gamut: billing for unapproved Covid tests, genetic testing fraud, home health-care billing and a host of other schemes.
Read more »
250K NYC retirees must switch to new Medicare coverage after union leaders favor privatized planThe switch will provide some new benefits, but critics of the change have raised concerns that the Medicare Advantage plan will be more likely to require prior approval for certain medical services and potentially deny coverage.
Read more »
For Young People on Medicare, a Hysterectomy May Be More AffordableMedicare covers people with disabilities who are young enough to get pregnant. Often, these patients' birth control is not covered, and they opt for hysterectomies or tubal ligations, which may be covered.
Read more »
Doing nothing on Social Security and Medicare will be a painful and costly decisionPresident Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump share little in their political philosophies and governing styles. But both have demonstrated they do...
Read more »