See what's included in obesity screening coverage. Learn how often it's covered, who's eligible, potential costs for counseling, more at Medicare.gov.

1 day ago · Obesity and related chronic illnesses led to more than $480 billion in direct health care costs and $1.24 trillion in indirect work-related costs due to absenteeism and disability from 2010-2017 "It is time for Medicare Part D to align with the broader healthcare market," the letter says.

Feb 27, 2024 · Medicare provides coverage for select obesity treatments, such as behavioral therapy. Many types of weight loss treatments are not covered by Medicare, which creates a gap in the continuum of care for older adults with obesity.

2 days ago · New letters urge the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to expand Medicare and Medicaid to include FDA-approved anti-obesity medications.

The proposed reinterpretation of Medicare coverage for anti-obesity medications (AOMs) is a critical inflection point in how the federal government approaches the treatment of obesity.

Jan 3, 2025 · The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has proposed a rule expanding Medicare and Medicaid patients’ access to anti-obesity drugs such as GLP-1s.

Jan 21, 2025 · The Biden Administration has proposed a new rule that would expand Medicare and Medicaid coverage for enrollees seeking prescription drugs popularized in recent years as weight-loss expedients. The shift in coverage could potentially be significant for millions of obese Americans who otherwise could ...

Obesity Disparities in Medicare Fee-For-Service Beneficiaries Obesity is when body weight is higher than what is considered a healthy weight for a given height measured by the Body Mass Index (BMI), a screening tool. A BMI of 30.0 or higher is considered obesity. It is a common, serious, and costly disease.

Jan 12, 2024 · Medicare may cover a number of weight loss programs and treatments. Learn about your weight-loss options with Medicare, including eligibility and costs.

Mar 22, 2024 · For the first time, Medicare will allow coverage of one of the new blockbuster weight-loss drugs for enrollees in Part D plans. The plans may now cover Wegovy when prescribed to prevent heart...