Senate investigates cost of weight loss drugs, impact to US health system

KARAH RUCKER: WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS ARE A HOT COMMODITY.

IN THE PAST THREE YEARS – THE NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE TAKING THEM HAS SHOT UP NEARLY 600 PERCENT.

THE FAD BECOMING THE LATEST MOCKERY OF THE SATIRE SHOW “SOUTH PARK.”

THEY’RE POPULAR – AND PRICY.
A NEW STUDY SHOWS THE PROFOUND IMPACT IT COULD HAVE ON THE U.S. HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IF THEY BECOME MORE WIDELY COVERED BY MEDICARE AND MEDICAID.
A SENATE COMMITTEE IS INVESTIGATING THE PARENT COMPANY OF OZEMPIC AND WEGOVY – NOVO NORDISK – FOR HOW THEY PRICE THEIR WEIGHT LOSS PILLS.

NOVO NORDISK RESPONDED – SAYING ITS WILLING TO WORK WITH LAWMAKERS TO LOWER PRICES.

UNLESS SOMEONE CAN GET THE DRUGS COVERED BY INSURANCE –
THEY’RE PAYING A PRETTY PENNY.
OZEMPIC COSTS 12,600 DOLLARS FOR A YEAR’S SUPPLY.
WEGOVY RETAILS FOR 16,200 DOLLARS PER YEAR.

MOUNJARO AND ZEPBOUND ARE A LITTLE LESS THAN 14 GRAND A YEAR. (13,900, 13,800)
IF SOMEONE DOES QUALIFY TO HAVE IT COVERED BY MEDICARE OR MEDICAID –
THEN THE BURDEN FALLS ON THE FEDERAL AND STATE PROGRAMS TO COVER THE HEFTY PRICE OF THE BOOMING WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS.
RESEARCHERS ESTIMATE THAT PROVIDING WEGOVY TO ALL 19.7 MILLION MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES WITH OBESITY WOULD COST $268 BILLION DOLLARS.
IF THE DRUG WERE JUST GIVEN TO PATIENTS CLINICALLY DIAGNOSED WITH OBESITY – IT WOULD STILL BE MORE THAN 135 BILLION DOLLARS.
THAT’S MORE THAN WHAT MEDICARE SPENDS IN AN ENTIRE YEAR ON RETAIL PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

A RECENT REPORT BY A SENATE COMMITTEE FOUND MAJOR DISPARITIES IN THE PRICE POINT AMERICANS PAY FOR THE DRUGS COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTRIES.
AMERICANS PAY 13 HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH FOR WEGOVY.
THE SAME MEDICATIONS COST LESS THAN TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH IN DENMARK, GERMANY, AND THE U-K.
SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS CHAIRS THE COMMITTEE INVESTIGATING NOVO NORDISK.
HE SAYS “if the prices for these products are not substantially reduced they also have the potential to bankrupt Medicare, Medicaid, and our entire health care system. The prices for these drugs are so high in the United States that everyone — regardless of whether they use the products — will likely be forced to bear the burden of Novo Nordisk’s profit maximizing strategy through higher insurance premiums and taxes.”
NOVO NORDISK RESPONDED TO SENATOR SANDERS BY DISCLOSING THAT IT RETAINS APPROXIMATELY 60% OF THE LIST PRICE OF OZEMPIC AND WEGOVY IN THE U.S –
AND SAYS THE REST IS PAID TO “THE MIDDLEMEN INVOLVED IN A COMPLEX U.S. HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.”
NOVO NORDISK ALSO DEFENDED ITSELF BY POINTING TO THE 10 BILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT THEY MADE IN THE DRUGS OVER THE SPAN OF A DECADE.
BUT DO SAY THEY’LL WORK WITH LAWMAKERS ON PRICING TO TACKLE WHAT THEY CALL “SYSTEMIC ISSUES.”
IT’S A DRUG THAT’S ALL THE CRAZE.
AND WITH 42 PERCENT OF AMERICAN ADULTS CLASSIFIED ASHAVING OBESEITY –
THE DEMAND IS THERE.
THE HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER DRUGS ARE PUSHING THE DEBATE OVER DRUG PRICES FRONT AND CENTER –
AS CONGRESS AND NOVO NORDISK NOW AGREE TO COME TO THE TABLE TO DISCUSS WHETHER TO MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE.
I’M KARAH RUCKER.
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