In the final stretch of President Joe Biden’s term, his Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has proposed a new Medicare and Medicaid rule that could spark a big debate. The rule would make weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy more accessible to these recipients. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra believes this could help fight the obesity crisis in the U. S. The drugs contain semaglutide, which has been shown to help with significant weight loss, reducing risks of conditions like diabetes and heart disease. The proposal aims to give older Americans on Medicare and low-income Americans on Medicaid easier access to these drugs. It also makes it harder for private insurers to deny coverage through prior authorization.

"We need to use all the tools we have to keep America healthy, " Becerra said. "Science should guide our decisions. "

However, the incoming HHS secretary-designate, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , might not agree. Kennedy has publicly criticized vaccines and might push for a focus on healthy eating and exercise instead. He once said that Americans are being sold drugs because they are considered "stupid and addicted. " The proposal will be entered into the federal register, but it doesn't require immediate action from the incoming administration.

Biden's Health Plan: A New Fight Over Weight-Loss Drugs

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