Bipartisan Bill Proposes Expanded Medicare Coverage for Obesity Treatment

The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA) has been introduced by bipartisan members of the U.S. House of Representatives to address the obesity crisis affecting Medicare beneficiaries. This legislation aims to expand Medicare coverage to include regular obesity screenings, access to health care specialists focused on chronic weight management, and FDA-approved medications. The objective is to prevent comorbid diseases such as heart disease, stroke, type II diabetes, and certain cancers, which are leading causes of preventable death in the United States.

Obesity has been recognized as a complex and chronic disease with significant public health implications. Economic analyses estimate that obesity-related costs reached $1.4 trillion in 2018, up from $976 billion in 2014. Studies indicate that effective weight management for Medicare patients with obesity and additional chronic illnesses could reduce healthcare costs significantly, by as much as 38%, translating to nearly $10,000 annual savings per patient.

The USC Schaeffer Center estimates that extending Medicare coverage to new obesity treatments could generate substantial cost offsets for the federal healthcare system, with projections of $175 billion in savings over the first decade and up to $700 billion across 30 years. Enhanced coverage for obesity medications is expected to improve health outcomes by lowering the prevalence and severity of expensive obesity-related chronic diseases.

TROA has garnered support from a diverse coalition of medical, nutrition, and public health organizations, including the American Diabetes Association, Endocrine Society, Obesity Medicine Association, and several national patient advocacy groups. These endorsements reflect broad recognition of obesity as a public health priority and the potential impact of expanded treatment access under Medicare.

The bill has a companion piece in the Senate led by Senator Bill Cassidy, highlighting ongoing legislative efforts to integrate obesity treatment into comprehensive Medicare policy frameworks. This initiative underscores the increasing emphasis on preventive care and chronic disease management within payer and policy circles, with implications for healthcare cost containment and improved patient outcomes among the aging population.