A combined image shows a Zepbound injection pen, the Wogovy Eli Lilly weight loss drug and Wogovy boxes, made by Novo Nordisk.
Reuters
President Donald Trump retired a proposal from the Biden administration on Friday to Medicare to cover obesity drugs, including popular but expensive GLP-1 treatments such as Novo NordiskSgovy and Eli LillyS zepbound.
But Medicare and Medicaid service centers said they can reconsider the coverage of these medications in the future, according to an informative sheet on the rule.
The proposal would have given millions of Americans more access to those drugs, but it would have cost the government billions. Many health plans, including Medicare, do not currently cover weight loss treatments, and some patients simply cannot pay their strong prices prices before insurance.
Wegovy and Zepbound cost approximately $ 1,000 before insurance and other reimbursements. Allowing Medicare to cover those medicines and other medications for weight loss could cost $ 35 billion in nine years, according to an analysis of the congress.
According to the Biden administration proposal, only those that are considered obese, someone who has a body mass index of 30 or more, would qualify for coverage. Some people can already obtain drug coverage through Medicare or Medicaid if they have diabetes or are at risk of stroke or heart disease.
The rule was not over before Trump assumed the position.
Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly did not immediately respond to comments requests.
Lilly's shares fell more than 2% in the extended trade, while the actions of Novo Nordisk fell more than 1%.
