State Medicaid programs grapple with covering GLP-1 weight loss drugs

With GLP-1 weight loss drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound in greater demand from both patients and doctors, state Medicaid programs are grappling with whether to cover them for weight loss, both for reasons of equity and to save on future health expenditures (Source: “As demand for weight-loss drugs rises, states grapple with Medicaid coverage,” Stateline, Jan. 6).
 
Medicaid programs cover some GLP-1 drugs to treat obesity in at least 13 other states: California, Delaware, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin.
 
An annual KFF survey recently found that half of the remaining state Medicaid programs are considering covering the drugs, but that the high costs are still prohibitive for most despite federal matches and rebate programs with drug manufacturers.

State officials say health equity — the idea that all groups regardless of background deserve equal access to health care — is one of the main reasons they are considering the coverage, but that they worry higher costs will put pressure on their Medicaid budgets, said KFF senior policy analyst Liz Williams, who co-authored the survey of state Medicaid program directors.