The Trump administration is closing in on a deal to allow Medicare coverage of weight loss drugs by Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk in some cases, according to multiple reports.
- The arrangement would be possible under a deal with the companies that would decrease the price of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy to $149 a month on the TrumpRX website for the lowest dose and Eli Lilly's Zepbound to $299, per the Wall Street Journal.
Why it matters: A deal could significantly expand seniors' access to popular weight loss drugs while drastically decreasing the estimated cost of that coverage.
- It also could lead to a broader impact on people's access to these drugs, since Medicare often influences what private insurers choose to cover.
- The Wall Street Journal reported that the deal could also allow Medicaid coverage of the drugs.
- Endpoints News first reported the details of the emerging deal.
The other side: "Discussion about deals that have not been officially announced by the Administration should be regarded as speculation," said White House spokesman Kush Desai.
Context: Medicare already covers GLP-1s for diabetes, heart disease and sleep apnea, and about half of seniors with obesity are already eligible for the drugs due to other conditions.
- In April, the Trump administration scrapped a Biden-era proposal to let Medicare and Medicaid cover GLP-1s to treat obesity. The plan would have cost some $40 billion over 10 years.
- This would be the latest in a line of deals between the White House and drugmakers to lower drug prices paid by Americans.
This story has been updated with a comment from the White House.
