Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2025
House Bill Would Expand Medicare Coverage for Obesity Drugs and Counseling
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- Would let Medicare cover obesity counseling from more providers, not just primary care doctors (like dietitians, psychologists, and nurse practitioners).
- Allows community-based lifestyle programs to be covered if they are approved and work with a referring doctor or primary care clinician.
- Would change Medicare drug coverage so obesity medicines can be covered when used to treat obesity, or for weight management with related health problems.
- The obesity medicine coverage would start for Medicare drug plans beginning 2 years after the bill becomes law.
- Requires the Health and Human Services Department to report to Congress within 1 year of enactment, and every 2 years after, on how it is being put into practice.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
How this policy affects specific groups of people
Milestones
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
2 articlesWill Medicare and Medicaid Cover Obesity Drugs?
Bipartisan legislation like the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act seeks to allow Medicare coverage for FDA-approved obesity medications and visits with specialists, potentially saving the system billions by reducing chronic disease complications.
Medicare Opens Path to Covering Popular Weight Loss Drugs Under New Voluntary Program
CMS announced the BALANCE program, a voluntary model allowing Medicare beneficiaries to access GLP-1 medications for $50 a month, addressing the same access gaps targeted by the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2025.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2025
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(72)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.