Should Medicare Cover More Obesity Treatments? (S. 830)

What is S. 830?

(Updated August 17, 2018)

This bill would allow Medicare to cover additional obesity treatments such as behavioral therapy or FDA-approved prescription drugs for chronic weight management. It would broaden the types of healthcare providers who can offer behavioral therapy beyond primary care physicians to include non-primary care physicians, clinical psychologists or nutrition professionals, or a community-based lifestyle counseling program. Medicare Part D would cover obesity medication beginning two years after this legislation’s enactment.

Within one year of the bill’s enactment and every two years thereafter, the Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) would report to Congress on steps taken to implement this bill, including recommendations for better coordination of federal support for clinical care.

Argument in favor

Obesity has significant negative effects on a person’s physical and mental state, and having Medicare cover more treatments would help beneficiaries.

Argument opposed

This is a personal issue and there are already questions about Medicare’s long-term solvency, covering more obesity treatments would only worsen that outlook.

Impact

People who would receive treatment through Medicare for obesity; and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Cost of S. 830

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) introduced this bill to give Medicare beneficiaries and their healthcare providers additional tools to reduce obesity by improving access to weight-loss counseling and new prescription drugs for chronic weight management:

“As a doctor, I’ve seen obesity’s effect on a person’s physical and mental wellness. We must work together to make effective treatment of obesity a priority. This bipartisan legislation will lower health costs and give patients access to proper tools for better health.”

Lead cosponsor Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) added:

“Too many Americans struggle with obesity and being overweight and, unless we take action, for the first time in our country’s history, our children will live shorter lives than their parents. I often say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and helping people struggling with their weight to get healthy is one of the best ways to improve their overall health. This legislation will help the federal government implement a robust strategy for reining in obesity and ensuring that our vital health care programs, like Medicare and Tricare, provide Americans with every available treatment and tool for reducing obesity’s physical, social and financial costs.”

This legislation has the support of seven bipartisan cosponsors in the Senate, including four Democrats and three Republicans.

Media:

• Sponsoring Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) Press Release
  
• Obesity Action Coalition (In Favor)
  
• Obesity Society (In Favor)