WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20) and Congressman Mike Kelly (PA-16) introduced bipartisan legislation to address the obesity crisis and lower out-of-pocket drug costs for vulnerable Americans. The Dual Eligible Americans Living (DEAL) with Obesity Act would provide coverage of weight loss drugs under Medicare Part D for dually eligible Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries living with obesity.
“For too long, Americans living with obesity were unable to access the life-changing medications they needed because of antiquated and discriminatory policies in the Medicare Part D program that considered obesity to be a purely cosmetic problem,” said Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick. “It is long overdue that Medicare recognizes obesity as a chronic disease so patients can benefit from new medical innovation in the obesity space.”
“Dually eligible beneficiaries, some of the most vulnerable members of our communities, should be given every opportunity to improve their health and wellbeing. The DEAL with Obesity Act will lead to better patient outcomes, reduce preventable chronic conditions, and ultimately save our health care system billions of dollars spent on obesity care every year,” said Congressman Mike Kelly. “I am proud to co-lead this bipartisan legislation alongside Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick and look forward to working with my colleagues to help our fellow Americans.”
“We applaud Representative Cherfilus-McCormick and Representative Kelly’s continued commitment to tackling the obesity crisis. The DEAL with Obesity Act will greatly expand access to innovative, life-altering weight loss drugs that have unfortunately remained out of reach for so many dual eligibles, 20% of whom are Hispanic,” said Dr. Elena Rios, President of the National Hispanic Health Foundation.
“HealthyWomen supports the DEAL with Obesity Act, a crucial piece of legislation aimed at improving access to innovative treatments for obesity. The Act will make GLP-1 agonists and other medications designed for obesity treatment more affordable for dual-eligible beneficiaries,” said Elizabeth Battaglino, CEO of HealthyWomen. “By eliminating the arbitrary prohibition of coverage for weight loss drugs under Medicare Part D, this legislation ensures that overweight individuals in this population can access the medications they need without financial barriers. HealthyWomen stands behind this effort to promote equitable healthcare access and better support those living with obesity.”
“The National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA) is proud to support the Dual Eligible Americans Living (DEAL) with Obesity Act, which marks an important step in addressing the obesity epidemic, which disproportionately impacts Latinos and other vulnerable populations, including dually eligible Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries,” said Indira Islas, Government Affairs Manager of the National Hispanic Medical Association. “By expanding Medicare Part D coverage to include weight loss medications, this legislation would provide equitable access to effective treatments for obesity linked to higher risks of diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions. NHMA applauds Representatives Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and Mike Kelly for their leadership on this issue and urges passage of this bill to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities for millions of Americans.”
“AACE understands the impact of obesity in this vulnerable population and supports improved access to proven effective treatments,” said Dr. Susan Samson, President of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology.
The DEAL with Obesity Act is endorsed by the American Diabetes Association, National Kidney Foundation, National Hispanic Health Foundation, National Hispanic Medical Foundation, Obesity Care Advocacy Network, HealthyWomen, Society for Women’s Health Research, American Society on Aging, and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology.
