Injectable weight-loss drugs have become a booming industry worth billions of dollars, but unfortunately, Medicare does not cover these drugs. Pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk is determined to change that. In an effort to achieve this, the company sponsored a panel discussion on obesity during a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation conference, which was attended by influential Black Americans including Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity specialist who supports Medicare coverage for weight loss drugs. Novo Nordisk also sponsored a streaming show hosted by former CNN commentator Roland Martin, where guests advocated for Medicare coverage of weight loss drugs. These actions are part of Novo Nordisk’s larger campaign to alter the public perception of obesity and influence public policy. The company is seeking to overturn a ban on Medicare coverage of weight loss drugs that has been in place for 20 years. The ban, implemented after the fen-phen diet pill scandal, has limited the potential market for drugmakers. If Medicare were to cover these drugs, it would make them accessible to many patients who could not afford them otherwise, and private insurers often follow Medicare’s lead. This would be a financial boon to Novo Nordisk and other drug manufacturers. Additionally, patients may need to take these drugs indefinitely to maintain weight loss, further increasing the potential revenue for drug companies. Novo Nordisk’s flagship weight loss drug, Wegovy, can cost patients over $1,000 a month. Novo Nordisk is advocating for the passage of the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act, which would overturn the ban on Medicare coverage of weight loss drugs. The company has also supported the Obesity Action Coalition, a patient advocacy group that aims to reverse the Medicare coverage ban. Novo Nordisk has advertised its weight loss drugs, Wegovy and Ozempic, and has made contributions to nonprofits associated with different groups of lawmakers. The company donated to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, all of which have endorsed a bill to eliminate Medicare’s prohibition on covering weight loss prescriptions. While Novo Nordisk declined to disclose the exact amount of its contributions, it stated that it supports these organizations to educate and raise awareness about important issues. Novo Nordisk also partnered with Roland Martin for a streaming show about obesity among Black Americans, with guests advocating for Medicare coverage of anti-obesity prescriptions. They highlighted the influence Medicare has on commercial insurances and emphasized the need for obesity to be recognized as a health issue deserving coverage.
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Rohit Malhotra is a medical expert and health journalist who offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being. His articles aim to help readers lead healthier lives.
