CMS Launches $50 Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program as Oz Backs Weight-Loss Drugs
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 9
CMS Launches $50 Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program as Oz Backs Weight-Loss Drugs
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 9
Summary
$50 a month is the price point for CMS's new Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program, which Dr. Mehmet Oz said will expand seniors' access to weight-loss drugs if they meet health criteria and get prior authorization.
Oz said he supports GLP-1s when used correctly with diet, exercise and medical supervision, arguing they can help overweight patients who struggle with mobility, hypertension or diabetes.
CMS is framing the push as a cost-saving move, with Oz saying obesity is the top driver of chronic disease and that roughly 70% of healthcare spending stems from chronic conditions.
The program also targets overweight people who lack the conditions typically required for Medicare coverage, signaling a broader federal embrace of GLP-1 treatment while stopping short of calling the drugs a standalone fix.