Last-minute Biden proposal stokes division within GOP
President Joe Biden's proposal to expand coverage of anti-obesity drugs like Ozempic has divided Republicans.
The next Congress could weigh in on whether to expand coverage of the widely used weight-loss drugs Medicaid and Medicare recipients shortly after Donald Trump takes office, and while the incoming president would have the authority to reverse Biden's plan, GOP lawmakers will likely want a say, reported Semafor.
“Obesity is such a chronic disease in America, so I’m certainly not opposed to them, and they’re helping a lot of people,” said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). “But I do not support tax dollars being used to pay for that.”
Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., opposes anti-obesity medication, saying that obesity and diabetes could be cured "overnight" with "three good meals a day," but some members of the GOP Doctors Caucus, a group of 19 medical professionals serving in Congress, back legislation that would allow for Medicare and Medicaid to pay for the drugs, like Biden has proposed.
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“If you want to fight obesity and you have a tool that seems to be working, do it — but closely monitored,” said Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), a co-chair of the caucus.
While no current member of Congress has spoken about using the popular drugs, Trump adviser Elon Musk is a fan, and Dr. Mehmet Oz, his pick to oversee Medicare and Medicaid, is currently promoting them on his website.
Trump could let the Biden proposal move forward to avoid an intra-party clash between those who oppose taxpayer dollars going to the treatments and those who believe that covering weigh-loss drugs is actually less costly than treating health conditions linked to obesity.
“The cost of Type 2 diabetes for Medicare and Medicaid is astronomical," said Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), "and this drug reduces weight massively."