Choose Healthy Life Statement on Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Exclusion of Anti-Obesity Medication Coverage
Choose Healthy Life (CHL), a national nonprofit dedicated to increasing access to health services in underserved communities through partnership with the Black church, is very disappointed in the decision by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to continue excluding Medicare Part D coverage for anti-obesity medications (AOMs). CHL sees firsthand in our communities that obesity is a chronic and complex disease linked to life-threatening conditions. These conditions include type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, mental health challenges, and more. Despite this, current CMS policies fail to treat obesity as a serious medical condition requiring comprehensive care, including access to FDA-approved treatments.
This exclusion disproportionately impacts vulnerable and underserved communities. Black adults are 30% more likely to be obese than white adults and 60% more likely to have diabetes. Systemic barriers to care leave millions in these communities without access to effective, affordable treatment. CHL, through its programs embedded in Black churches across the country, sees firsthand the devastating impact of untreated obesity. We also witness the life-changing improvements that accessible treatments like AOMs can bring to individuals and families.
CHL also calls on Congress to pass the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA), which is designed to expand access to innovative obesity treatments under Medicare. Similar to the proposed expansion of Medicare Part D coverage for AOMs, this bipartisan legislation aims to modernize care by including proven therapies, medications, and services, complementing CMS reforms and providing underserved communities with a pathway to better health outcomes.
Expanding Medicare Part D to cover AOMs would produce both immediate and long-term benefits. Early intervention prevents costly complications, reduces hospitalizations, and eases the strain on the healthcare system. Addressing obesity now saves lives, reduces healthcare spending, and promotes health equity for all Americans.
CHL calls on CMS to reconsider its decision and acknowledge obesity as the chronic, treatable disease it is. Providing Medicare Part D coverage for AOMs is a critical step toward improving health outcomes and creating a healthier future for millions. It’s time to act.
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ABOUT CHOOSE HEALTHY LIFE
Choose Healthy Life (CHL) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing access to health services through the Black church by funding, establishing, and training trusted faith-based health navigators to educate, deliver, and connect communities to much-needed health services. Founded in 2021, Choose Healthy Life funded 120 churches across 13 states, hosting over 11,000 wellness events, vaccinating and testing over 350,000 individuals, and screening over 21,000 for comprehensive health measures and health risks. Today, CHL's health navigators are focused on addressing the lack of access to health services in their respective communities to help individuals take control and own their health.
