Skip to content

What They Are Saying: Treating Obesity Saves Lives and Saves Dollars

July 18, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Americans aging into the Medicare program will maintain access to their anti-obesity medications (AOMs) under legislation approved with overwhelming bipartisan support last month by the Ways and Means Committee. The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (H.R. 4818) expands Medicare coverage to AOMs for seniors who are already being treated with those medications. Currently, Medicare’s Part D prescription drug program would kick an estimated 1.25 million seniors entering Medicare off of their medication because of an existing prohibition under law. 

Given obesity’s long-term health implications for seniors as well as its out-of-pocket costs to patients and financial strain on the health care system, a broad coalition of health care advocates and organizations – including many disease-specific groups – have come out in support of the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act.

Alliance for Patient Access

American Gastroenterological Association

American Liver Foundation

Amputee Coalition

Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation

BPC Action

Choose Healthy Life

Coalition of 29 Disease, Minority, and Patient Advocacy Organizations

Fatty Liver Foundation

Gerontological Society of America

Health Equity Coalition for Chronic Diseases

Health & Fitness Association

Healthy Women

MANA International

National Action Network

National Council on Aging

National Kidney Foundation

National Menopause Foundation

Partnership to Advance Cardiovascular Health

Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association

The Mended Hearts, Inc.