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. |
Travis Kelce names Taylor Swift his 'significant other' at the Mahomes' charity gala in Las VegasLouisiana Supreme Court rules for new City of St. GeorgeLewandowski hat trick gives Barcelona comeback victory over ValenciaHoroscope today: Daily guide to what the stars have in store for YOUConservative states challenge federal rule on treatment of transgender studentsMessi to Miami: Soccer star, and a few teammates, show up for HeatOutfielder Aaron Hicks designated for assignment by Angels after poor start'The Tortured Poets Department' gets largest streaming week everSue Bird says joining ownership group of the Seattle Storm felt inevitableDeepfake of principal's voice is the latest case of AI being used for harm