A pilot program in West Virginia that provided weight-loss drugs to state employees was canceled due to high costs, but the director of medical weight management says it showed impressive results. The 1,000-person program covered GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, which can cost $1,000 monthly.
Participants lost an average of 15% of their body weight and saw significant health improvements, including reduced blood pressure and improved diabetes markers. They were also able to discontinue some medications before the state’s Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) ended coverage in March 2024.
The program cost around $1.3 million monthly, even with manufacturer rebates. However, some experts argue that cutting the program could be a bad fiscal decision, as West Virginia has one of the highest adult obesity rates in the nation.
The state senator who chairs the Joint Standing Committee on Insurance and PEIA said the program’s price tag was unsustainable, but acknowledged the medications’ effectiveness. Now, lawmakers are working with drug manufacturers to find solutions. President Joe Biden has proposed requiring Medicare and Medicaid to pay for obesity medications, which could impact similar programs in the future.
Source: https://www.newsnationnow.com/health/west-virginia-employees-glp-1-drugs