Millions of older Americans with obesity could potentially get Medicare's help with the hefty price of a weight-loss medication in order to reduce their high risk of heart problems.
Michigan Medicine - University of MichiganSep 23 2024 Millions of older Americans with obesity could potentially get Medicare 's help with the hefty price of a weight-loss medication in order to reduce their high risk of heart problems.
That number doesn't include the 7 million who may already qualify because they have diabetes plus obesity. Medicare coverage of semaglutide – but for whom? Chaitoff and his former colleagues at Harvard University launched the study after the announcement this spring that Medicare would allow coverage of semaglutide for enrollees in drug plans if they had established cardiovascular disease. The drug is sold as Wegovy when used for weight loss, and Ozempic when used for diabetes.
Chaitoff, who provides primary care to veterans at VAAAHS, notes that Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans could opt to set conditions to determine which high-risk patients could qualify for treatment with semaglutide. They could also tell them to share more of the cost. Related StoriesThe scoring tool is called the ASCVD, and incorporates many factors to help guide clinicians who are trying to decide what preventive treatments a person might need. Those who score 20% or above are considered high risk for heart disease or stroke, while those who score 7.5% to just under 20% are considered intermediate risk.
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