\n Some Medicare enrollees may soon be able to access super-popular drugs for obesity under a voluntary model program, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced Tuesday. Eligible beneficiaries will have to pay only $50 a month.\n <\/p>\n
\n Medicare is currently banned by law from covering medications for weight loss, but the administrations of President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden have argued GLP-1 drugs are crucial to addressing chronic diseases.\n <\/p>\n
\n The Trump administration recently negotiated a deal <\/a>with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to provide their weight loss drugs to Medicare at a discounted rate. The model \u2014 titled Better Approaches to Lifestyle and Nutrition for Comprehensive hEalth, or BALANCE \u2014 aims to improve beneficiaries\u2019 health through greater access to these medications in their Medicare Part D drug plans, along with lifestyle supports, while controlling costs for patients and taxpayers.\n <\/p>\n \n The effort builds upon the administration\u2019s goal of \u201cdemocratizing access to weight-loss medication, which has been out of reach for so many in need,\u201d Dr. Mehmet Oz, CMS administrator, said in a statement. It pairs \u201cbreakthrough science with healthy living to cut costs while empowering Americans to take control of their health,\u201d the statement said.\n <\/p>\n \n CMS will negotiate prices with the GLP-1 drug makers to provide lower prices under both Medicare and Medicaid, which is administered by states. The negotiations will also cover eligibility criteria for beneficiaries.\n <\/p>\n \n Participation will be voluntary for manufacturers, states and Medicare Part D insurers, the agency said.\n <\/p>\n \n State Medicaid agencies can join the model in May 2026, and Part D plans in January 2027. But Medicare beneficiaries should be able to access GLP-1s by July through a separate short-term demonstration program. The test will end in December 2031.\n <\/p>\n \n The Biden administration last year proposed<\/a> reinterpreting the law to allow coverage for the treatment of obesity as a chronic disease. Trump administration officials halted<\/a> that effort earlier this year.\n <\/p>\n \n Last month, the Trump administration announced an agreement that calls for eligible Medicare enrollees to pay $50 for certain GLP-1 medications approved for obesity and diabetes and for Medicare to pay $245 for the drugs, which will help pay for the expanded coverage.\n <\/p>\n \n Under the agreement, consumers who are overweight and have prediabetes or who have had a stroke or other cardiovascular disease will be eligible, as will those who have obesity and diabetes or uncontrolled high blood pressure and severe obesity.\n <\/p>\n