States Are Walking Back Medicaid Coverage for GLP-1s

[MsGizmo]

Oh .. and while on the topic of insurance companies (including Medicaid) being allowed to ban GLP-1s for obesity .. they typically cover many treatment options for drug addiction, alcoholism and smoking cessation (patches, nicotine gum and counseling.)

By allowing the government to exclude coverage for obesity drugs in Medicaid we are ALSO allowing all the other insurance companies to do it too. When you agree to the Medicaid exclusion you are admitting to the world that you also think that obesity isn't caused by a legitimate medical condition.

 

[MillyFanilly]

Oh .. and while on the topic of insurance companies (including Medicaid) being allowed to ban GLP-1s for obesity .. they typically cover many treatment options for drug addiction, alcoholism and smoking cessation (patches, nicotine gum and counseling.)

By allowing the government to exclude coverage for obesity drugs in Medicaid we are ALSO allowing all the other insurance companies to do it too. When you agree to the Medicaid exclusion you are admitting to the world that you also think that obesity isn't caused by a legitimate medical condition.

You are right. And that’s where my anger needs to be. Big Pharma. Thanks for your perspective. It’s appreciated.

 

[adria37]

I absolutely hate insurance companies. I do oncology/hematology and see the bullsh*t denials for lifesaving drugs but I also know that most of the US is obese. I know the state employees health plan had to stop covering it because they were going broke just providing one class of drug. I think the cost is what we should be angry about. Why are they even allowed to charge these crazy amounts. I am all for making a profit but selling a drug that costs pennies for 1500.00 is ridiculous.

 

[Mimi2 8967]

I’d be surprised if bariatric surgeons have much of a lobby.

Well most bariatric surgeons are not just bariatric. Usually they specialize in trauma or general surgeries. That’s where the leverage comes from. If a hospital loses their bariatric program, may hurt the bottom line but not the accreditation but take their trauma or surgical programs. Now you’re talking about losing accreditation. But the big guns that does the lobbing is the AMA (American Medical Association), plus CMS/medicare medicaid. Why pay big pharma $$$$ when they can have a life long patient? Weight loss patients literally see their weight loss doctor multiple times prior, countless times during the weight loss process and yearly thereafter and that’s if there are no complications! The complication rate is unbelievable, it’s just not talked about. I’ve seen it first hand.

 

[rsmith]

I shouldn’t be surprised by this but I am. I know a couple people who are having significant malnourishment issues after weight loss surgery. I am rather disenchanted with allopathic medicine and am lucky enough to afford to see a functional practitioner.

Still stewing…..What happened to the hypocritical oath? These doctors can move in to other sectors of medicine, should their sectors be obsolete by GLP1, can they not?

What happened to the hypocritical oath?

LOL, it's alive and well.

 

[Sun_Seeker]

That’s fair. I will keep the rest of my opinions to myself. My mother used to tell me that opinions are like buttholes. Everybody has one and they all stink.

While perhaps unpopular opinion, I appreciate you sharing it. I think it's important to think about where all people are coming from in terms of perspective. And I really appreciate that this forum is a somewhat safe space for all to share. Those spaces to have civilized conversations are scarce in my sphere.

 

[skeptick]

That’s fair. I will keep the rest of my opinions to myself. My mother used to tell me that opinions are like buttholes. Everybody has one and they all stink.

But everyone is of the opinion that their's is the one that doesn't stink the least........said that bass ackwards

 

[randompersonrandom]

I don't want my taxes to pay for the obesity meds for people on Medicaid; that's not fair and there are more deserving areas to spend them on. Like buying expensive machines to more efficiently kill people who don't look like me, or bank bailouts, or better tracking software in case a woman in my state tries to avoid being forced to give birth, or hiring additional masked men to brutalize my neighbors and coworkers. Under no circumstances should those tax dollars be used for medicine that keeps lower-income people from getting sick.

 

[vewdew34]

You people would be amazed what Insurance wont pay and refuses to pay for patients, I deal with it every day of the week, and best part is they want updates on patients that are Hospitalized and always asking us to kick them out so they don't have to pay an extra $1000.

But here in my state every drunk and drug user gets a pay check and insurance for free while I pay to be denied certain things.

 

[AndyPanda]

I don't want my taxes to pay for the obesity meds for people on Medicaid; that's not fair and there are more deserving areas to spend them on. Like buying expensive machines to more efficiently kill people who don't look like me, or bank bailouts, or better tracking software in case a woman in my state tries to avoid being forced to give birth, or hiring additional masked men to brutalize my neighbors and coworkers. Under no circumstances should those tax dollars be used for medicine that keeps lower-income people from getting sick.

You deserve high taxes and bad infrastructure.

 

[MsGizmo]

You deserve high taxes and bad infrastructure.

All those tariffs are a flat tax. No deductions or exemptions.

 

[mlke6]

I don't want my taxes to pay for the obesity meds for people on Medicaid; that's not fair and there are more deserving areas to spend them on. Like buying expensive machines to more efficiently kill people who don't look like me, or bank bailouts, or better tracking software in case a woman in my state tries to avoid being forced to give birth, or hiring additional masked men to brutalize my neighbors and coworkers. Under no circumstances should those tax dollars be used for medicine that keeps lower-income people from getting sick.

I'm just very thankful that tax dollars are used to give politicians free Healthcare. Screw poor people and people who are disabled. They don't need it like our leaders do.

 

[randompersonrandom]

I'm just very thankful that tax dollars are used to give politicians free Healthcare. Screw poor people and people who are disabled. They don't need it like our leaders do.

Of course not, we can't give free healthcare to people who aren't rich. What, are you a communist??

 

[AndyPanda]

I'm just very thankful that tax dollars are used to give politicians free Healthcare. Screw poor people and people who are disabled. They don't need it like our leaders do.

I’m more tired of the politicians living for free than anyone. They enter office living paycheck to paycheck and then become millionaires. Now there are apps like Autopilot that track their trades, but you need money to make money.

 

[Morbius]

If only they entered office living paycheck to paycheck, they might remember what it was like to be a normal person once in a while!

 

[tncc_rn]

Opinion | States Are Walking Back Medicaid Coverage for GLP-1s

Obesity drugs are more than just 'weight loss' medications

www.medpagetoday.com

"It is hard to imagine an insurance company denying chemotherapy to treat cancer or insulin for type 1 diabetes, but insurance companies (public and private) routinely deny treatment for obesity."

If an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure...

I guess they opt for paying for the pound of cure. Pun intended

If insurance companies were paying what we pay for gray, they would demand people be in them before they would insure anyone.

The insurance companies have no one else to blame but the pharmaceutical companies, but in the end it's us that pay one way or another.

 

[tncc_rn]

If only they entered office living paycheck to paycheck, they might remember what it was like to be a normal person once in a while!

None of them will ever go back to living normal lives after getting a sweet taste of the graft and corruption.

 

[Morbius]

I think that is broadly true but even a cynic like myself can be reluctant to paint them all that way. I know one of my state senators and he's, like, a regular dude who still has a day job, has been in the government for years and still hasn't gotten rich, and looks haggard every time I see him from the stress of both jobs.

It is as important to recognize the people who are doing a good job as it is to castigate the crooks. I admit that list seems to be awfully short, though.

 

[Windingroads06]

That’s fair. I will keep the rest of my opinions to myself. My mother used to tell me that opinions are like buttholes. Everybody has one and they all stink.

Your mama was right!