Fiscal Impact of Expanded Medicare Coverage for GLP-1 Receptor Agonists to Treat Obesity
This economic evaluation estimates that expanded Medicare coverage for GLP-1RAs would increase access and reduce obesity-related comorbidities but impose substantial costs over 10 years. Even with a moderate scenario (5% uptake, 20% adherence, and 30% additional price discount), net spending was still projected to reach $8 billion over a decade, underscoring the need for further price reductions, lower-cost strategies to prevent weight regain, and reductions in spending on low-value care.
Authors
- Neda Laiteerapong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0124-4325)
- Elbert S. Huang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4628-2061)
- Dariush Mozaffarian (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7958-9492)
- A. Mark Fendrick (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7734-6742)
- David D. Kim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3383-8972)
- Jennifer H. Hwang
Institutions
- Tufts University (US)
- Chicago Department of Public Health (US)
- University of Michigan (US)
- University of Chicago (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- JAMA Health Forum
- Published
- 2025-04-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1001/jamahealthforum.2025.0905
- Citations
- 20
- Primary Topic
- Pharmacology and Obesity Treatment
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 27.89
Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- Health Resources and Services Administration