Congress must support bipartisan legislation that will ensure Medicare beneficiaries can access safe, effective, and life-saving treatments for obesity.
Update: On November 26th, the White House announced a to expand coverage for obesity medications under Medicare and Medicaid. Click here to learn more about what this means for patients.
The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA), aims to improve access to safe, effective and life-changing treatments for obesity for Medicare beneficiaries. Obesity is a complex, chronic condition that impacts over 100 million Americans. Unfortunately, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) still prohibits Medicare prescription drug coverage of obesity medications, and the National Coverage Determination (NCD) for intensive behavioral therapy (IBT) for obesity is overly restrictive to the types of health professionals and settings of care.
TROA (H.R. 4818/S. 2407) aims to effectively treat and address obesity in older Americans by:
- Enhancing Medicare beneficiaries’ access to healthcare providers that are best suited to provide IBT
- Allowing Medicare Part D to cover FDA-approved obesity medications
TROA Update and Next Steps: Fall 2024
On June 27th, the House Ways and Means Committee passed an amended version of the TROA, marking a significant milestone that the bill has never reached in previous sessions of Congress. However, we still have a lot of work to do. Another House committee needs to act, and the Senate also needs to take up the legislation. TROA is gaining support on both sides of Congress, with over 130 bipartisan cosponsors in both the House and Senate as of October 2024.
Key Milestones and Next Steps
Right now, the OAC is urging the House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee to include TROA in a markup session. Our champions in E&C, Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and Raul Ruiz (D-CA), are working with their staff and colleagues to take this crucial next step before the bill can go to a vote on the House floor.
We are also in communication with Senate Finance Committee (SCF) leaders, Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Mike Crapo (R-ID), to encourage them to find a path forward for TROA this year. No proposed changes to the bill are final yet, and we hope that important discussions in the coming weeks will result in a version of TROA that can pass in both the House and Senate.
TROA in the News
Learn more about the need to pass TROA from advocates across the country!
“The recognition that obesity is not a choice is a huge step forward. Let’s continue to encourage our elected officials that the time is now to ensure access to these ground-breaking treatments for the Medicare population and to pass TROA in both the House and Senate.”
– Dr. Robert Huster | The Kansas City Star, “Obesity doctor calls for end to stigma with federal act and better treatment options”
“It’s beyond time that Medicare policy be updated to provide coverage for obesity medications and other effective treatment options for this chronic disease and the 41.9% of Americans living with it.”
— Joe Nadglowski, Inside Sources | Medicare Must Catch Up with the Science on Obesity
Support TROA and Make Your Voice Heard!
Congress is currently in October recess and will return after the election. The final months of an election year are known as the “lame duck” session. Despite the name, it’s often a busy time when lawmakers work to pass bills, especially those who are retiring.
Two TROA supporters, Representative Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) and Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), are retiring after this session, adding momentum and motivation to the urgency to get TROA passed this year.
It’s important for OAC supporters and advocates to keep reaching out to their members of Congress — remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease! Even if you’ve already contacted them, do it again, and again, and again. Adding more cosponsors will show Congressional leaders that TROA is a priority. Current cosponsors also need to keep pushing the bill forward. Constituent outreach, especially from patients, is extremely powerful!
You can get started by using the OAC Action Center, and watch your email for special alerts and action requests.