The Trump Administration and semaglutides
Semaglutides are turning out to be transformative for obesity in the way that statins have been transformative for hypercholesterolemia and anti-hypertensives have been transformative for high blood pressure: they’re not only highly effective but have minimal side effects.
From a public health standpoint, there’s every reason to allow Medicare and Medicaid coverage for semaglutides. But in the Trump era, public health is just another political toy. So what’s the future of semaglutides under Trump II? Well, Elon (who is not a doctor) likes them because they helped him lose weight. The one-time heroin addict and HHS director nominee RFK Jr. (who is not a doctor) is opposed. And Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services director nominee Dr. Oz (who *is* a real doctor) must like them because he pitched them on his tee-vee show. So where do we stand?
“It’s unclear, however, whether the Trump administration will go along with the proposal, which it would have to finalize and implement. While incoming officials have yet to weigh in [heh} on the Medicare proposal directly, they’re divided on the drugs’ value in general.”
One “side effect” of semiglutides is their cost. That will likely change as cheaper alternatives come on the market. Meanwhile, access to this transformative therapy is a hostage to shysters and bubbleheads. Sad
The politics of semaglutides
From a public health standpoint, there’s every reason to allow Medicare and Medicaid coverage for semaglutides. But in the Trump era, public health is just another political toy. So what’s the future of semaglutides under Trump II? Well, Elon (who is not a doctor) likes them because they helped him lose weight. The one-time heroin addict and HHS director nominee RFK Jr. (who is not a doctor) is opposed. And Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services director nominee Dr. Oz (who *is* a real doctor) must like them because he pitched them on his tee-vee show. So where do we stand?
“It’s unclear, however, whether the Trump administration will go along with the proposal, which it would have to finalize and implement. While incoming officials have yet to weigh in [heh} on the Medicare proposal directly, they’re divided on the drugs’ value in general.”
One “side effect” of semiglutides is their cost. That will likely change as cheaper alternatives come on the market. Meanwhile, access to this transformative therapy is a hostage to shysters and bubbleheads. Sad
The politics of semaglutides
Joel:
That either of them have an opinion on this would cause enough of a concern about them. It is a new wonder drug which replaces eating less (or so it seems). So people will flock to it in the beginning. Lets see how it impacts people in the future.
@Bill,
Agreed. Although it doesn’t “replace” eating less, it makes people eat less by giving them a sense of satiety. They actually *do* eat less. One of my sisters lost 100 lbs on Wegovy after having battled weight for decades.
Joel:
That is wonderful. I am sure she feels much better as a result.