Medicare will now cover the popular weight-loss drug Wegovy if patients using it also have heart disease, U.S. officials announced Thursday.
The move comes after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved drugmaker Novo Nordisk's application to add cardiovascular benefits to the medicine's label earlier this month.
As a result, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said it has informed insurers that provide Medicare Part D drug plans that they could cover the medication if it is approved for another use.
Even if plans do allow coverage, they may still require higher out-of-pocket fees, prior authorizations or step therapy, where a patient must try a lower-cost drug before proceeding to the new treatment, Neuman noted. Wegovy is one of four popular weight-loss medications called GLP-1 receptor agonists.
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Medicare will cover Wegovy to reduce heart disease riskBerkeley Lovelace Jr. is a health and medical reporter for NBC News. He covers the Food and Drug Administration, with a special focus on Covid vaccines, prescription drug pricing and health care. He previously covered the biotech and pharmaceutical industry with CNBC.
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Medicare plans can now cover Wegovy for patients at risk of heart diseaseThis change follows the recent FDA approval of the weight-loss drug for preventing heart attack and stroke in people with overweight or obesity.
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Medicare plans can now cover Wegovy for patients at risk of heart diseaseThis change follows the recent FDA approval of the weight-loss drug for preventing heart attack and stroke in people with overweight or obesity.
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Wegovy to be covered by US Medicare for heart disease patientsHeart patients insured under the U.S. Medicare program would be covered for Novo Nordisk's weight-loss drug Wegovy as long as it is prescribed to reduce their risk of heart attacks and strokes, the agency overseeing the program said on Thursday.
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