Wegovy brand semaglutide medication.Photo:George Frey/Bloomberg via Getty
George Frey/Bloomberg via Getty
Medicare has officially expanded its coverage to include Wegovy for patients at risk of heart disease.
Enrollees in Part D plans will now have access to the popular weight loss drug when specifically prescribed as a treatment to prevent strokes and heart attacks, per the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
PerNPR, Wegovy is categorized as a GLP-1 agonist, which means it relies on hormones and the brain to reduce one’s appetite.
Medicare, which provides coverage for more than 65 million people in the U.S., according to data from theCMS, was previously barred from covering any form of weight loss drug. However, a recent ruling from the Food and Drug Administration expanded the approval to allow Wegovy to be prescribed, only if the patient is overweight, to reduce heart disease risk.
A stethoscope.Getty
Getty
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That same decision to allow Wegovy coverage also applies to state Medicaid plans. However, as of the time of writing, Medicare will not cover the drug if it is being used solely to manage weight.
The CMS told NPR in a statement that they are “committed to ensuring that people have access to treatments and treatment options that improve health outcomes.”
Wegovy, like related semaglutide drug Ozempic, has become popular among celebrities for weight loss.Oprah Winfrey,Keke Palmer,Amy Schumerand others have addressed its recent proliferation in Hollywood and beyond.
Ania Jastreboff M.D., PhD., told PEOPLE in January, “The mostcommon side effectswith these medications are nausea and diarrhea, and sometimes you can have vomiting or constipation.”
Jatreboff also noted, “If the medication is increased too quickly, then these side effects are more likely to occur.”
Medicare’s acceptance of new drugs for coverage typically comes first before private insurance companies begin paying. It remains to be seen when or if others follow Medicare’s lead and offer coverage options for Wegovy.
source: people.com
