Medicare can pay for the popular weight-loss drug Wegovy — as long as the patients using it also have heart disease and need to reduce the risk of future heart attacks, strokes and other serious problems, federal officials said Thursday.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued new guidance that says Medicare Part D drug benefit plans — which are offered through private insurers — could cover anti-obesity drugs that are approved for an additional use.
The move could pave the way for thousands of new prescriptions, resulting in billions of dollars in increased spending, analysts have said.
In practice, the guidance opens the door to wider coverage of Wegovy, the brand name of Novo Nordisk’s obesity medication semaglutide. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration this month approved a label change that allows Wegovy to be used to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in people who are overweight or have obesity and also have existing heart disease.
Storms damage homes in Oklahoma and Kansas. But in Houston, most power is restored
China beats Indonesia to claim its 16th Uber Cup title
Gisele Bundchen joke from Tom Brady roast came from Drew Bledsoe's wife, ex
Hotpot festival spices up Chongqing's consumer market
Eflin allows 1 run in 7 innings as Rays beat White Sox 5
Canucks facing doubters ahead of 2nd
Rangers are undefeated at .500 to keep World Series champs from a losing record with Bochy
China's telecoms industry expands steadily in Q1
Adams, Reyna, Turner, Ream are US concerns ahead of Copa America
Rare golden monkeys thrive at Chinese world heritage site