Gomez, GriceldaStanford, Fatima2018-02-202017Gomez, G, and F C Stanford. 2017. “US Health Policy and Prescription Drug Coverage of FDA-Approved Medications for the Treatment of Obesity.” International Journal of Obesity (November 20). doi:10.1038/ijo.2017.287.0307-0565http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:34854235Objective: Obesity is now the most prevalent chronic disease in the United States, which amounts to an estimated $147 billion in health care spending annually. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) enacted in 2010 included provisions for private and public health insurance plans that expanded coverage for lifestyle/behavior modification and bariatric surgery for the treatment of obesity. Pharmacotherapy, however, has not been included despite their evidence-based efficacy. We set out to investigate the coverage of Food and Drug Administration-approved medications for obesity within Medicare, Medicaid and ACA-established marketplace health insurance plans. Methods: We examined coverage for phentermine, diethylpropion, phendimetrazine, Benzphentamine, Lorcaserin, Phentermine/Topiramate (Qysmia), Liraglutide (Saxenda) and Buproprion/Naltrexone (Contrave) among Medicare, Medicaid and marketplace insurance plans in 34 states. Results: Among 136 marketplace health insurance plans, 11% had some coverage for the specified drugs in only nine states. Medicare policy strictly excludes drug therapy for obesity. Only seven state Medicaid programs have drug coverage. Conclusions: Obesity requires an integrated approach to combat its public health threat. Broader coverage of pharmacotherapy can make a significant contribution to fighting this complex and chronic disease.en-USJournal Article2017-11-102018-05-2110.1038/ijo.2017.287