PAN Foundation submits letter to sponsors of obesity healthcare act
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The PAN Foundation submitted a letter to Congressmembers Mike Kelly, Marinette Miller-Meeks, M.D., Raul Ruiz, M.D., and Gwen Moore in support of H.R.4231, the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA), which would expand Medicare coverage of anti-obesity medications under Medicare Part D.
Medicare is largely barred from covering FDA-approved anti-obesity medications (AOMs) under Part D, including GLP-1 therapies. This coverage gap limits access to life-enhancing treatments for over two-thirds of Medicare beneficiaries living with obesity, who also face increased risk for over 230 serious health complications such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. Even those with access to AOMs often report having to ration, skip, or discontinue their medication due to high out-of-pocket costs, contributing to worse health outcomes and higher utilization of healthcare services. Expanded Medicare coverage of obesity care is vital to improving health outcomes and securing long-term savings for the U.S. healthcare system and taxpayer.