Obesity Medicine Physician Discusses Potential Medicare Changes

Newsweek featured comments from obesity medicine physician Eleanor Yusupov, D.O., assistant professor at the College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM), in an article about proposed Medicare and Medicaid expansions, which would extend coverage to include FDA-approved anti-obesity medications. A coalition of around 20,000 advocates and twelve major healthcare groups has called on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to include these medications, a change they say would potentially benefit up to 7.5 million Americans. 

“High cost of anti-obesity treatments and lack of insurance coverage remain major barriers for patients who need these medications. It is an issue of equity in healthcare that we face every day,” says Yusupov. “Too often, our most disadvantaged patients are not able to obtain highly effective anti-obesity medications. The policy change will improve access to medications that are now recommended by evidence-based guidelines to prevent diabetes, improve heart health, and enhance quality of life for many patients.”