W&M Committee Advances Treat and Reduce Obesity Act

On June 27, the House Ways and Means Committee advanced four bills that would expand Medicare coverage of weight loss drugs, some medical devices, and other products, despite concerns from Democrats. The committee voted 36-4 to advance the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (H.R. 4818) that would allow Part D plans to provide coverage for weight loss drugs, but the bill was substantially amended to narrow its scope to new Medicare beneficiaries who already had a non-Medicare plan covering the medicines and a prescription at least one year before enrolling in the federal health program. The bill also requires the HHS Secretary to initiate a reconsideration of the national coverage determination for intensive behavioral health therapy for obesity.

Republicans and Democrats argued over the best policy approach for increasing equitable access to anti-obesity medications, with some Democrats criticizing the decision for creating an unequal system that benefits only a subset of older adults. A handful of amendments offered by Democrats seeking to expand the bill were voted down. An end-of-year health care package could provide a vehicle for the bills, but the path forward is unclear.