Target: Mehmet Oz, Nominee for Administrator of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Goal: Advance plan to classify obesity as a chronic condition and mandate weight loss treatment coverage.
An estimated 40 percent of Americans are considered obese. Excessive weight can lead to a number of health problems, and obesity is often considered a chronic illness itself. More Americans are turning to drugs used for weight loss, such as Ozempic, to help treat their conditions. The high price of these drugs can limit access for many individuals. But a new proposal by the Biden administration could dramatically expand this access.
Under the proposal, both Medicare and Medicaid programs would be required to cover weight loss drugs as a chronic condition treatment. Currently, few states exercise this option. By making the coverage a requirement, over seven million Americans would gain access to drugs that could significantly impact their long-term health.
Since the guideline would take several months to go into effect, it will need the support of the new administration. Sign the petition below to compel this support.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Dr. Oz,
You have previously advocated for weight loss medications that have reportedly helped millions of Americans change the course of their lives. As you know, obesity is a serious epidemic that is negatively affecting all aspects of Americans’ health and endangering their livelihoods and their lives. The agency you have been nominated to lead, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, recently proposed a rule that would cover significant weight loss drugs under Medicare Part D and Medicaid.
If you are tasked with leading this agency, please support this plan that could benefit millions more Americans.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Andres Ayrton
133 Signatures